Jute Industry in India

Jute has occupied an important and integral part in national economy in India.  India is leading jute goods producing country in the world, accounting for about 70% of estimated world production.

Jute bags and diversified jute products have become increasingly demanding and lucrative items across the world, which shares major contribution from India. Jute production in India in 2012-13 has touched to 2353 quintals per hectare.   India has produced close to 108 lakh bales of jute in the last fiscal. Over the last few years jute cultivation area has remained constant at about 9 lakh hectares in India.

  To increase the jute production and overall development of jute industry at home and abroad, Government has launched “Jute Technology Mission”(JTM) from 2007-08, spanning a period of five years. JTM provides for setting up of Jute Parks for the Diversified Sector. Currently about 73 jute mills are operating in the country at present.

       India is the major producer of jute products in the world primarily due to its vast domestic market. Average domestic consumption out of total production has been around 90%.

Key Facts

ü  Bio-degradable jute deteriorates organically, replenishing the earth with productive invaluable nutrients.

ü  Abundant availability – a renewable and sustainable resource

ü  Durable material – has the life span of over a thousand plastic carrier bags

ü  Jute is a natural bast fibre, a vegetable fibre composed of cellulose which is the main building material of all plants, like all natural fibres jute is totally biodegradable. Bast fibre grows the entire length of the plant stalk from roots to tip. Groups of fibres are contained in the pithy layer between the thin outer bark and the woody core.

ü  When discarded, jute totally decomposes putting valuable nutrients back into the soil.

ü  Environmentally friendly – non pollutant, produces non toxic gases or harmful gases by product.

ü  Jute industry supports an estimated 5 million people in the poorest regions on earth.

ü  One hectare of Jute plants consumes over 15 tonnes of CO2, several times higher than trees.