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Allied Industry

The non-implementation of the revised formula for the pricing of finished jute goods supplied to the government remains a ‘pressing concern’ for mill owners

The jute industry faced a nearly “30 per cent reduction in demand” for food grains and sugar packaging bags, resulting in trimmed working hours in mills in 2024, while subdued prices for the finished product and the raw material affected both millers and farmers, stakeholders said.

The non-implementation of the revised formula for the pricing of finished jute goods supplied to the government remains a “pressing concern” for mill owners as the existing price mechanism is “old and outdated” and has led to “reduced profitability”, they said.

Although the government has decided to revise the pricing formula, details are still awaited, according to the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA).

Jute mills have complained of a “nearly 30 per cent reduction in demand for jute bags during the 2024-25 period”, and this decline has mainly been attributed to “decreased procurement” of packaging bags by the sugar industry.

As a result, mills have had to make operational adjustments, such as reduced shifts and working hours, leading to job losses, a mill owner said. This had an adverse impact on jute farmers across West Bengal, a major producer of golden fibre, in terms of realisation, he said.

IJMA deputy chairman Rishav Kajaria raised concerns about the challenges of the jute industry. “The reverse auctions on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal are forcing mills to bid below fair prices set by the jute commissioner, threatening the financial stability of mills and jeopardising statutory payments to workers,” he said.

Kajaria also highlighted the sugar industry’s “non-compliance with the mandatory 20 per cent jute packaging requirement under JPMA, 1987” and this has “reduced demand for jute bags, further harming the sector”.

“The jute sector’s survival depends on immediate and decisive intervention to address these pressing issues and safeguard the livelihoods of millions dependent on this vital industry,” Kajaria said. However, Jute Commissioner Moloy Chandra Chakravorty had a different perspective on the year. “The year was a normal year without any major hiccups, and the lower production in the 2024-25 jute season to around 73 lakh bales, down from 91 lakh bales the year before, was a boon to stabilise the price, which the preceding two years faced glut and huge carryforward,” he said.

Chakravorty denied that demand from the government was lower, saying, “The industry was crying for unrealistic demand of 36 lakh bales. The government demand of 30-32 lakh bales was in line with the last few years, but this hue and cry by the industry was due to low private demand.” The government raised the minimum support price of raw jute during the current season, and the Jute Corporation of India claimed record raw jute procurement to protect farmers.

“The price was fixed at Rs 5,335 per quintal for the 2024-25 season, which is Rs 285 more than the previous year. This would ensure a return of 64.8 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production,” another government official said. As the jute sector looks to the future, it is clear that addressing the issue of non-implementation of the revised pricing formula and ensuring compliance will be crucial to its survival and growth, industry stakeholders said.

As for the West Bengal government, there is a need for policies aimed at the development of labour colonies and quarters, the implementation of night shifts for women workers, and improved procurement practices, IJMA officials said.

The non-implementation of the revised formula for

AgroPolicy, Textile industry

It is expected that the cap removal will help the farmers, mills and jute MSME sector

Government of India after careful examination of the market dynamics of raw jute trade has lifted price cap of Rs 6500 per quintal for TD5 grade of raw jute fixed w.e.f. September 30, 2021 on purchase of raw jute by the jute mills and other end users.

Jute Commissioner Office has been collecting the information about the raw jute prices through formal and informal sources and found that the present prices are ruling near the capped price. As the existing prices of raw jute are ruling around Rs 6500 Government of India has taken a dynamic decision to lift the price capping w.e.f. May 20, 2022.

It is expected that the cap removal will help the farmers, mills and jute MSME sector wherein over seven lakhs people are dependent on the jute trade in addition to about 40 lakhs jute farmers. The decreasing trend in prices will also benefit jute goods exports which constitute about 30 per cent of the industry’s turnover in value terms.

It is expected that the cap removal

Agro Universities, Organic, Sustainability, Textile industry

Discussions were held on the great potential of jute in raising the economy of the country

The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata recently organised a two-day programme for mega campaign on natural and organic farming in jute-based cropping system among the farmers of major jute growing districts of West Bengal.

The Chief Guest, Dhrubajyoti De, Joint Commissioner (HQ), Barrackpore, Kolkata underlined the great potential of jute in raising the economy of the country. De stressed on considering the soil and water conservation while adopting the modern methods of farming. The role of conservation of nature, soil and water in making the agriculture profitable and sustainable was also highlighted.

Delivering the inaugural address, Dr Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore accentuated on taking the profitable farming to solve the challenges of unemployment and women empowerment into account while implementing natural and organic farming in the farmers’ fields.

The programme was aimed at promoting the knowledge of natural and organic farming in the production of the good quality organic jute fibre suitable for diversified use and export.

The workshop registered participation by 100 farmers, farm women and scientists of the ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore.

Discussions were held on the great potential

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Textile industry

Discussions were held on the future of jute sector

The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata in association with the National Jute Board and Jute Corporation of India recently organised the Stakeholders’ Meet on “Modern Agronomic Practices for Jute Cultivation.”

Delivering the inaugural address, the Chief Guest, MC Chakrabortty, Jute Commissioner, National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India stressed the greater contribution involvement and coordination in the future for better performance in the jute sector.

The Guest of Honour, Kamlesh Kumar, General Manager, NABARD underlined the important role that the NABARD can play by mobilising the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations, Farmers’ Club to a single platform for subsidised input and profitable marketing of jute fibres.

The Guest of Honour, AK Jolly, MD, Jute Corporation of India accentuated the exchange of ideas and strategies for filling up the gap existing in the Jute-ICARE Project.

The Guest of Honour, Esther Kathar, Additional Secretary, P&RD, Government of Assam highlighted the scope of developing the Jute Clusters in Assam.

The Guest of Honour, Dr Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore, Kolkata emphasised the adoption of the technology-centric strategies for filling up the yield gap. Dr Kar emphasised disseminating four to five good quality varieties to the farmers for sustaining and maintaining the growth in fibre productivity. The technologies like inter-specific jute hybrid, endospore-based liquid retting consortium and jute ribboner that are useful in jute farming were also highlighted by Dr Kar.

The Guest of Honor, Dr DB Shakyawar, Director, ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata regarded the Jute-ICARE as one of the most successful promotional Projects that has reached a larger section of the jute farmers.

More than 100 delegates from the various ICAR Institutes; Directorate of Jute Development, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Jute Corporation of India; National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India; representatives from state governments and Indian Space Research Organization, etc., attended the meet.

Discussions were held on the future of

Inputs, Interaction, Machinery – Post-harvesting

The main aim of the meet was to create awareness among the Agriculture Extension Officers and Farmers on the recent developments in the improved cultivation and post-harvest technologies of Jute and Allied Fibre crops.

The ICAR- Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore, Kolkata have recently organised a two-day “Sensitisation-cum-interactive meeting of agricultural officers of Odisha”.

The event marked the presence of Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore, who in his inaugural address to the participants stated about how the Institute’s current research programmes and technologies are functioning.  He also highlighted the economic, ecosystem and nutraceutical importance of Jute and Allied Fibre Crops. Kar reiterate the need to bring solutions to the various issues through the appropriate technological intervention for substantial increase in Jute productivity in Odisha.

The participants visited the different models of ‘In-Situ Retting Tank’ and ‘Solar-Operated Slow Moving Retting Water Facility’ in the newly developed Retting Complex of the Institute.

The meet was organised with the sole purpose of creating awareness among the Agriculture Extension Officers and Farmers on the recent developments in the improved cultivation and post-harvest technologies of Jute and Allied Fibre Crops. Near about 10 Officials and 2 Progressive Farmers from different jute growing Districts of Odisha participated in the meet.

The main aim of the meet was