1. JUTE CROP & TEXTILE INDUSTRY

2. JUTE CROP TROPICAL FIBRE CROP
GROWS WELL IN DELTA REGION OF GANGA – BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY.
INDIA SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER AFTER BANGLADESH.
CALLED THE GOLDEN FIBRE OF INDIA BECAUSE IT EARNS VALUABLE FOREIGN EXCHANGE THROUGH EXPORTS.
USED FOR SACKING – THREATENED BY DEVELOPMENT OF PLASTICS AND SYNTHETIC FIBRES. MANY COMMODITIES NOW PACKED IN POLYTHENE BAGS.
ALSO USED FOR MAKING ROPES, STRINGS, CARPETS, DECORATION ITEMS, etc.
IS A SOIL EXHAUSTING CROP.

3. Methods of cultivation
SOWING – FEBRUARY ON LOWLANDS AND MARCH – MAY ON HIGHLANDS.
HARVESTING – READY FOR HARVEST IN ABOUT 8 TO 10 MONTHS / DIFFERENT VARIETIES TAKE DIFFERENT TIME TO MATURE.
PLANTS CUT CLOSE TO GROUND OR UPROOTED AND TIED INTO BUNDLES.
PROCESSING – AFTER HARVESTING JUTE IS LEFT TO DRY FRO 2 TO 3 DAYS.
RETTING – BUNDLES IMMERSED IN SOFT RUNNING WATER SO THAT FIBRE CAN BE EASILY REMOVED.

4. AFTER RETTING
FIBRES ARE REMOVED FROM STALK AND ARE BEATEN TO LOOSEN THEM.
AFTER WASHING THE FIBRES THEY ARE SPREAD OUT IN THE SUN AGAIN TO DRY.
THESE ARE TYHEN GRADE AND MADE INTO BUDLES A CCORDING TO QUALITY.
THE BEST QUALITY IS EXPORTED.

5. MESTA IT IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR JUTE. HAS A COARSER FIBRE.
IS INFERIOR TO JUTE IN QUALITY.
CAN BE USED TO MAKE COARSER SACKS AND BAGS.
CAN BE GROWN IN AREAS UNSUITABLE FOR JUTE CULTIVATION BECAUSE IT CAN TOLERATE DRIER CONDITION.
MAIN PRODUCERS OF MESTA – BIHAR, ASSAM, TAMIL NADU, MAHARASHTRA, KERALA.

6. REASONS FOR WEST BENGAL BEING THE LEADING JUTE PRODUCER
OVER 60 PER CENT OF TOTAL AREA UNDER JUTE CULTIVATION.
HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE SUITABLE FOR JUTE.
ALLUVIAL, LOAMY SOIL.
HIGH DENSITY OF POPULATION – CHEAP LABOUR

7. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE JUTE INDUSTRY
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES IN INDIA.
KOLKOTA – MOST IMPORTANT CENTRE OF JUTE TEXTILE.
LABOUR INTENSIVE INDUSTRY – PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT TO SKILLED AND UNSKILLED WORKERS.
MAJOR ITEM OF EXPORT WITH 20 PER CENT OF EXPORT EARNING.
GOLDEN FIBRE- NATURAL, RENEWABLE, BIO- DEGRADABLE & ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT IDEL FOR PACKAGING.

8. PROBLEMS OF JUTE INDUSTRY
MOST JUTE PRODUCING AREAS WENT TO BANGLADESH AFTER INDEPENDENCE.- ACUTE SHORTAGE OF RAW JUTE.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION – SYNTHETIC FIBRES , POLYTHENE, PLASTIC PACKAGES MORE IN DEMAND.
LESS DEMAND IN MARKET – AGAIN DUE TO SUBSTITUTES AVAILABLE.
HIGH PRICE OF PRODUCTION – OBSOLETE MACHINERY.

9. STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE JUTE INDUSTRY
MADE IT MANDATORY TO USE JUTE IN MANY SECTORS.
NATIONAL JUTE POLICY – TO INCREASE JUTE PRODUCTIVITY, IMPROVE QUALITY, ENSURE GOOD PRICES FOR FARMERS, ENHANCE PER HECTARE YIELD.