Big Boost For Jute Sector-Govt. Makes Juke Packaging Mandatory For Food Grains

Recently, the Central government has sanctioned reservation norms for the mandatory use of jute in rice, wheat, and sugar packaging for the Jute Year 2022-23. The northeastern states such as Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya Jute sector will get a boost from this. 

The compulsory norms will offer full reservation for the packaging of food grains. It will also get a 20 per cent reservation for the packaging of sugar in jute bags, which will be a big boost for West Bengal.

An official statement said,'' The Jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India. In West Bengal, only nearly 75 jute mills operate and offer a livelihood to lakhs of workmen. This initiative will support up to 40 lakh farm families in the jute sector. The decision will also help the jute sector in Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Tripura, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.''

The statement further stated that under JPM Act the reservation norms offer direct employment to 3.70 lakh workers and protect the requirement of approx. 40 lakh farm families in the jute sector. 

The statement added,'' The JPM Act, 1987 protects the interest of Jute farmers, persons, and workers, who work in jute goods’ production.  75 per cent of the maximum production of the Jute Industry is Jute Sacking Bags. In this data, 85 per cent is sent to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Procurement Agencies (SPAs), and the remaining product is exported or sold directly.''

As per the information the government purchases Jute sacking bags worth approximately Rs 9,000 crore per year for the packaging of foodgrains.

The statement added ''The large purchasing rate makes sure a guaranteed market for the produce of Jute Farmers and Workers.''  

The Average Production of Jute Sacking Bags is about 30 lakhs bales and the Government is dedicated to making sure of complete off-take of the production of jute bags in order to protect the interest of Jute farmers, workers, and persons working in the Jute Industry.

Furtherly, these reservation norms would the interest domestic production of raw jute and jute packaging material in India. It is one of many steps for making India self-reliant in consonance with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The official statement said, ''It will be a helping hand to protect the environment because jute is a natural, bio-degradable, renewable and reusable fibre and completes all sustainability parameters.''

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