- Jute Industry in India accounts for 70% of the world’s jute production
- Employs around 3.7 lakh workers directly.
- Around 90% of the production is consumed locally.
- About 73% of country’s jute industries are concentrated in West Bengal.
- Challenges faced by Jute Industries
- Lack of Modernization: Dependent over obsolete machinery and less integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
- Raw Material: Area under jute cultivation declined (1.7 Lakh ha between 2013-14 to 2021-22)
- Low value addition: Less emphasis on products such as Jute Geo Textiles.
- Non-Compliance: Mandatory jute packaging guidelines are not followed by many industries.
- Also, lack of impetus from states to procure jute products in feasible areas like geo-textiles.
- Other: Shortage of skilled labour force, closure of existing factories, low export, etc.
- Key Recommendations
- Promoting modernization, equipping industries with digital moisture metres to improve the quality.
- Prepare comprehensive policy for reviving the closed mills and setting up new mills.
- Devise suitable Scheme in consultation with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to minimize the shortage of skilled workers.
Key Government Initiatives
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