The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore, is a leading institute that promotes sustainable jute-based eco-farming and the environmentally friendly conversion of agricultural waste into wealth. Aside from the economic importance of jute, the institute emphasizes the positive role of natural fibres in promoting a green and sustainable environment.
In this context, the ICAR-CRIJAF organized Kisan Diwas and an awareness campaign on 23.12.22 to enhance the use of natural fibre for replacing plastic for clean and green India with the major objective to extend the advanced scientific cultivation technology of jute and other natural fibre crops to the farmers to harness higher economic and environmental benefits from these crops.
In his address, Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, said that plastic waste has become an impediment to a clean environment and a major pollutant everywhere, leading to widespread littering. Realizing the consequences of plastic pollution and banning on ‘single use of plastics,’ the country has created nationwide awareness to go for alternatives to plastics.
“We are fortunate that jute, of which India is the world's largest producer, is the best plastic substitute. As a result, the use of jute and allied fibre products has the potential to increase farm productivity and income, resulting in a more sustainable and healthy environment.” Dr. Kar urged the farmers to grab the opportunity of growing jute in the traditional cropping system following the technologies developed by the institute to make jute farming more profitable. The demand for jute fibre will increase further as jute products are coming up to replace plastics significantly.
There was a steep rise in export and domestic demand for jute-based goods in recent years. Besides producing biodegradable fibre, jute plants are a huge source of renewable biomass and sequester carbon from the atmosphere comparable and higher than trees. Jute crop sheds green leaves, which help maintain soil fertility.
Saurav Barik, SDO, Barrackpore, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CRIJAF in popularising the jute crop and jute-based products among the farmers and people of every stratum of the society for a green and clean environment. He also expressed major concern about multiple problems posed by the plastics and urged the farmers to grow jute in a big way to re-establish the crop as the “golden fibre”.
Barik reiterated that after adopting improved farming technology, farmers’ productivity and income will be enhanced and urged the farming community to take benefit of improved scientific technology for productivity and income enhancement. The farmers visited the fibre museum, exhibition hall, in-situ jute retting pond-based integrated framing models, composting units, and improved farm machinery for jute cultivation developed by ICAR-CRIJAF.
In the farmers-scientist interaction programmes the scientists shared information about new jute varieties, INM, IPM, farm machinery, and retting technologies. New improved seeds, biocontrol agents, botanical pesticides, and small farm tools were distributed among the farmers for sustainable jute farming. More than 200 farmers, scientists, members of SHGs, and FPOs were present at this Kisan Diwas
