Promoting jute industry: Union agri minister lauds state govt

Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh lauded the state government for its move to promote jute industry and for taking measures to increase the production of jute items. He said that the West Bengal government has increased the use of files made of jute thereby giving a great boost to the jute industry in the state. The usage of various jute items has also increased manifold in recent times.

Singh on Tuesday visited jute research center at Ranikuthi and inspected various research works that were going on at the Centre. Singh said that the demands of jute items have been increased in the country. To meet the demands in the market, the production of the jute items like bag, file, garments have gone up considerably. He also said that it was not always possible to meet the huge requirements of various jute items as the demands are very high. He praised the state government as it had taken various initiatives to increase the sale of jute products.

It may be mentioned here that following the complaints from the Centre that most of the rice mills were not adhering to the Jute Packaging Act to pack 90 per cent of rice in jute, the state government has increased vigilance in this regard. State also stressed on the use of geo-textiles in construction activities, vigilance for compliance of Jute Packaging Act for packaging of paddy in the state and encouraging packing potatoes into jute bags. Jute in the form of Jute geo textiles are used in road construction and are widely perceived to be a green alternative to synthetic geo-textiles.

The ministry had earlier complained that most of the rice mills were not adhering to the Jute Packaging Act. Meanwhile, the jute industry has urged the West Bengal government to introduce a Jute Policy along with jute packaging laws for different agro products in the state for sustainability of the jute sector.

“Indian Jute Mills Association has met the state Labour Minister Malay Ghatak recently and apprised him of the latest problems. Beside, requesting him to take some immediate steps, we have urged him that state government issues order for packing 100 per cent potato and rice in jute bags,” an IJMA official said.

“We have tried to convey that there is an urgent need for a Jute Policy and jute packaging laws for different agro products in the state for long term sustainability as the Centre remains indifferent to the problems of the jute sector,” he said.