India’s Golden Fiber
Jute is referred as the ‘Golden Fibre’ thanks to the golden hue it exudes. The biggest plus for jute is, it is bio-degradable and can be an alternative to synthetic bags. The Indian Jute Industry is the world’s largest producer of raw jute, as well as the second largest exporter.
The jute industry dates back to 1855 when a British national George Acland set up the first jute mill in West Bengal. Today, there are more than 70 jute mills in Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura and Chhattisgarh.
In the fiscal year 2022-23, India produced 94.90 lakh tonnes of Raw Jute & Mesta, two closely related crops. Additionally, the country produced 384.1 lakh tons of finished jute products, accounting for 75% of the global production. The country’s substantial demand for jute highlights that nearly 90% of this production was consumed domestically, interestingly.
Jute meets all the standards of safe packaging as it is natural, renewable, biodegradable and ecofriendly product. So, it can be a good alternative and replacement for plastic for packaging, this is helpful for the Indian economy as well as the environment.
The Jute industry directly employs approximately 3.7 lakh workers so the expansion of this industry will lead to more employment. Jute is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.
Jute has huge potential
Jute industry has huge potential but most mills have outdated technology. There is a need to infuse modern technology and provide more facilities and promote contract farming initiatives and offer incentives to farmers to boost jute cultivation. Many farmers are leaving the sector for other jobs.
Empower the jute workers with comprehensive training programs to refine their expertise and place emphasis on honing skills in weaving, dyeing, and value added processes.
There is a need to pioneer exploration of untapped global markets for jute products. Promote jute based handicrafts and lifestyle commodities to broaden market reach. Launch awareness campaigns spotlighting the ecofriendly attributes and sustainability of jute. Educate consumers on the merits of choosing jure products.
