Jute Year a goodwill for farmers: Packing food grains, sugar products in ‘Jute’ material is mandatory

New Delhi, January 4: From now onwards it is compulsory to pack 90% of food grains and 205 of sugar products in jute material for the Jute Year 2017-2018. This move aims to up the demand for the jute sector and also support the livelihood of the workers and farmers. The Jute Year 2017-18 period is from 1st July 2017 to 30th June, 2018. 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for mandatory packaging in the jute material for the Jute Year 2017-18. Elaborating the CCEA decision, the government statement said, "The approval mandates that 90% of the food grains and 20% of the sugar products shall be mandatorily packed in jute bags."

"The decision also mandates, the entire requirement for packing of foodgrains would be placed in jute bags thus, making a provision for 100% packing of food grains in jute bags subject to the ability of the jute industry to meet the requirement," it added.

 

The government decision will benefit farmers and workers located in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of the country particularly in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura, besides giving a boost to jute industry.

The jute industry is predominantly dependent on government sector which purchases jute products more than Rs 5,500 Crore every year.

"Considering that nearly 3.7 lakh workers and approximately 40 lakh farmers are dependent for their livelihood on the jute sectors, the government has been making concerted efforts for the development of jute sector; increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute, diversification of jute sector and also boosting and sustaining demand for jute products, the statement said.