Need for Reforms in the Jute Industry

• 16 Sep 2024

For Prelims: Natural Fibre, Alluvial Soil, Water Hyacinth, Marginal and Small Farmers, Carbon Sequestration, Geotextiles, Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987, Technical Textiles Mission,  Irrigation.

For Mains: Possibilities and challenges in India’s jute industry.

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, jute cultivation and the challenges faced by the sector was highlighted by the Indian Jute Mills Association and called for reforms in this sector.

What are the Key Facts About Jute?

• About Jute: Jute is a natural fibre under the category of bast fibres like flax, hemp, kenaf and ramie. 
  • It has been traditionally grown in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, which make up the present day West Bengal of India and plains of Bangladesh.
  • The first jute mill in India was set up in the year 1855 at Rishra, near Kolkata.
• Ideal Condition: Jute can grow in a wide range of soil but fertile loamy alluvial soil is better suitable. 
  • Relative humidity between 40-90% and temperature between 17°C and 41°C, along with well-distributed rainfall over 120 cm is ideal for cultivation and growth of jute.
• Species: Normally, two species namely Tossa and White jute respectively are produced on a commercial scale. 
  • Another bast fibre crop commonly known as Mesta has two cultivated species – Hibiscus cannabinus and Hibiscus Sabdariffa.
• Harvesting Techniques: The bast fibre crop can be harvested at any stage after a certain period of vegetative growth, usually between 100 and 150 days.
  • Harvesting of jute crop at the pre-bud or bud stage gives the best quality fibre, however, the yields are low. 
  • Older crops yield more quantity but the fibre becomes coarse and the stem does not ret properly.
    • The retting process is a method that uses moisture and microorganisms to separate plant fibres from the stem. 
  • Hence, as a compromise between quality and quantity, the early pod formation stage has been found best for harvesting.
• Retting Process: The bundles of jute stems are kept in water and later placed side by side, usually in layers and tied together. 
  • They are covered with water hyacinth or any other weed that does not release tannin and iron.
  • Retting is best done in slow-moving clean water. The optimum temperature is around 34 degrees Celsius.
  • Once the fibre comes out easily from the wood, retting is considered complete.
• Versatility: Jute is a tall, hardy grass having height up to 2.5 metres and each part of it has several uses.
  • The outer layer of the stem produces the fibre that goes into making jute products. 
  • The leaves can be cooked. People prepare soups, stews, curries, and vegetable dishes using leaves.
  • The inner woody stems can be used to manufacture paper.
  • The roots, which are left in the ground after harvest, improve the yield of subsequent crops. 
• Production: West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar are the major jute-growing states in the country and are mainly cultivated by marginal and small farmers.
• Employment: Jute is a labour-intensive crop and provides huge employment opportunities and benefits to local farmers. 
  • Raw jute farming and trade make up the livelihood of about 14 million people.
• Importance: Jute, known as the golden fibre, is the second most important cash crop in India after cotton in terms of cultivation and usage. 
  • India is the largest producer of jute in the world.

What are the Benefits of Using Jute Fibres?

• Biodegradable Alternatives: Many countries are trying to reduce the use of plastic commodities, especially plastic bags. 
  • Jute bags are biodegradable and environment-friendly alternatives to plastic bags.
• Value-Added Products: Along with traditional usage, jute can contribute in the production of value-added products such as paper, pulp, composites, textiles, wall coverings, flooring, garments, and other materials.
• Doubling Farmers’ Income: An acre of land produces approximately nine quintals of fibre. While the fibre is sold for Rs 3,500-4,000 per quintal.
  • The woody stalk and the leaves fetch approximately Rs 9,000. The earning per acre is approximately Rs 35,000-40,000.
• Sustainability: Jute requires only half the land and time, uses less than one-fifth of the water in irrigation, and needs far fewer chemicals compared to cotton.
  • It is largely pest-resistant, and its rapid growth spurt ensures that weeds don’t stand a chance. 
• Carbon Neutral Crop: The carbon dioxide emission from jute is carbon-neutral in nature since the product is from plant-source and can be considered as a biomass.
• Carbon Sequestration: Jute can sequester up to 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. 
  • This is a significant amount of carbon, and it can help mitigate climate change. 
  • Jute is a fast-growing plant, allowing it to absorb a lot of carbon dioxide in a short period of time.

What Challenges are Involved in Jute Farming?

• Low Availability of Natural Water: Historically, annual river flooding would inundate the fields, allowing bundled jute stalks to be submerged directly in the fields. It simplified the retting process.
  • Current practices involve transporting jute to artificial ponds for retting process due to reduced flooding.
• Unrealised Potential: The jute industry is operating at 55% capacity, affecting over 50,000 workers. The demand for jute bags is projected to drop to 30 lakh bales for 2024-25.
• Outdated Technology: According to the Jute Commissioner’s Office, many jute mills in India use machinery that is over 30 years old. This leads to reduced operational efficiency and higher production costs.
• Lack of Product Diversification: Jute is a versatile fibre with potential applications insulation (replacing glass wool), geotextiles, activated carbon powder, wall coverings etc. 
  • The lack of products in these high-growth areas means that a significant portion of jute remains underutilised, affecting overall industry growth and sustainability.
• Concentration of Jute Mills: There are about 70 jute mills in the country, of which about 60 are in West Bengal along both the banks of river Hooghly.
  • It can result in bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the distribution of raw materials and finished products. 
  • Jute cultivation located outside this region, particularly in northeastern India, faces challenges in accessing resources and markets.
• Inadequate Support: Despite the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 the jute sector faces challenges in policy implementation and support.

What are the Government Schemes Related to Jute Industry?

• Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987
• Technical Textiles Mission
• Minimum Support Price for Jute
• National Jute Policy 2005
• Jute Technology Mission (JTM)
• Jute SMART

Way Forward

• Golden Fiber Revolution: A ‘Golden Fibre Revolution’ has long been called for by various stakeholders.
  • It focuses on increasing jute cultivation, enhancing the quality of jute products, promoting exports, and improving the livelihood of jute farmers and workers.
• Flood Management: Advocate for water management practices that can help restore natural flooding patterns or simulate them through controlled irrigation. This will ease the retting process and reduce dependency on artificial methods.
• Upgrade Machinery: Encourage investment in new technologies and machinery for jute processing. The government could offer subsidies or low-interest loans to mills for technological upgrades.
• Promote Product Innovation: Support research and development to explore new applications for jute, such as geotextiles, and activated carbon. Engage with industry experts to develop new product lines.
  • Companies can be provided tax benefits, grants, or subsidies to encourage innovation and market expansion.
• Enforce and Expand Policies: Ensure effective implementation of the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987. Review and update the Act to address current industry needs and market conditions.
• Policy and Industry Review: Regularly review and adjust policies and industry practices to reflect changing market conditions and technological advancements.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Critically analyse the challenges faced by jute industry and suggest a comprehensive strategy to revitalise it.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q.The lower Gangetic plain is characterised by a humid climate with high temperature throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this region? (2011)

(a) Paddy and cotton

(b) Wheat and Jute

(c) Paddy and Jute

(d) Wheat and cotton

Ans: (c)

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Mains

Q. Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (2017)