Jute production is expected to drop by 20% in FY 2024-25 due to Natural Calamities: National Jute Board | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Jute production is expected to drop by 20% in FY 2024-25 due to Natural Calamities: National Jute Board

Posted 17 Sep 2024

2 min read

The production may decline as floods have damaged the jute crop in some areas of West Bengal and Assam.

  • Both states are the major producer of Jute crop (known as golden fibre).

About Jute Industry 

  • Status: India is the leading jute goods producing country in the world, accounting for about 70% of estimated world production.
    • One of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal (about 73%).
    • Around 90% of the production is consumed locally.
  • Opportunities 
    • Provides direct employment to 0.37 million workers in organized mills.
    • Jute exports had the potential for ₹4,500 crore annually (in 2023-24 it was ₹3,000). 

Challenges 

  • Declining area: Area under jute cultivation declined (1.7 Lakh ha between 2013-14 to 2021-22)
  • Availability of Low-cost alternative: E.g. Synthetic Products.
    • Also, there is lack of impetus from states to procure jute products such as jute geo-textiles.
  • Quality: More than 80% of raw jute grown is below average or poor quality.
  • Other: Lack of Modernization, Shortage of skilled labour force, etc. 

Measures Suggested (as per Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development)

  • Prepare comprehensive policy for setting up new mills. 
  • Devise a suitable scheme to address the shortage of skilled workers, etc. 

Initiative Taken 

  • National Jute Board (NJB) has been constituted as per National Jute Board Act, 2008. 
    • It is mandated for development of the cultivation, manufacture and marketing of jute and jute products. 
  • National Jute Development Programme- An Umbrella Scheme for development of Jute Industry. 
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
  • Establishment of the Jute Corporation of India (JCI)
  • Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packaging Commodities) Act, 1987 enacted for the compulsory use of jute packaging material.
  • Other: Jute Mark Logo, Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise (Jute ICARE) Scheme, etc. 
  • Tags :
  • Jute
  • National Jute Board (NJB)
  • Jute Corporation of India (JCI)
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