Jute Exports Crossed Rs 3000 Crore per annum, says MC Chakraborty, The Jute Commissioner of India

ICAR-CRIJAF in association with the Directorate of Jute Development (DJD), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, GoI organized a one-day National Level Workshop to discuss jute production, marketing and utilization strategies for export promotion and import substitution.

The main objective of this workshop was to discuss the current developments in scientific jute production technology, capacity building and policy initiatives to streamline the marketing and value addition so that the farmers and other stakeholders involved in jute cultivation and marketing get maximum benefit.

C. Chakrabortty, Jute Commissioner Chaired the inaugural session in which Dr B. S. Mahapatra, VC, BCKV as the Chief Guest and Dr Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, A. K. Jolly, MD, JCI and D. B. Shakyawar, Director, ICAR-NINFET were the Guest of Honours. At the outset Narendra Kumar, Director, DJD welcomed the guests and briefed about the workshop.

Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore highlighted the importance of the workshop in which all the technology developers, policymakers and line departments have assembled in one platform to discuss the future course of action for jute in the country. He emphasized technological intervention from seed to market for the overall development of jute farming. Dr Kar informed that the existing yield gap of 15 q/ha can be resolved by the adoption of new technology developed by ICAR-CRIJAF.

He emphasized the importance of agro advisory and e-extension given by ICAR-CRIJAF for integrated technology dissemination and mitigating the natural calamities. He stressed that it is important to highlight the ecosystem value and by-product utilization of jute crop to harness maximum profit.

Dr. D. B. Shakyawar, Director, ICAR-NINFET in his address told that fibre quality determination and quality grading scientifically are the need of the hour for getting higher prices by farmers. A reduced number of grades will facilitate realistic price fixation which helps the producer to obtain a proper price for jute fibre.

K. Jolly, MD JCI highlighted that crop estimation and price stabilization through modern technology will bring transparency in jute marketing. It is important to go for a pragmatic approach to transfer plans into action.

Dr S. K. Biswas, Consultant, DJD briefly described the initiatives and programmes taken up by DJD. Prof. B. S. Mahapatra, Vice-Chancellor, BCKV, Kalyani graced the occasion as Chief Guest. In his address, he emphasized that the line departments must take special initiatives in line with other crop missions to reestablish jute as a profitable crop by ensuring the adoption of new technologies for improved jute cultivation. He also told that the network of KVKs must be effectively liaisoned for the propagation of improved jute cultivation. He emphasized that integrated action of all the organization can boost the jute sector significantly.

M.C. Chakrabortty, Jute Commissioner in his presidential address reiterated that viable technologies must be utilized by the stakeholders for the development of jute sector. He informed that the export of jute goods has crossed more than Rs. 3000/- crores per annum, which is a good sign for the farmers and the exporters.

More than 100 delegates from ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres, ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering & Technology, Directorate of Jute Development, Jute Corporation of India, National Jute Board, State Agril. Deptt., State Agricultural Universities, National Seed Corporation participated and deliberated in this workshop.