Jute, popularly known as the ‘golden fibre’, is the second most important fibre crop of India. It is in great demand due to the cheapness, softness, strength, length and lustre of its fibre. It is widely used in making gunny bags, hessain, ropes, strings, carpets, cloth, tarpaulins, upholstery and decorative pieces. Jute is facing tough competition from synthetic fibres.
Jute is obtained from the stem of its plant, which may grow to a height of about 2 to 3 metres. Jute fibre is soft, strong and can be drawn out in good lengths.
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Conditions for Growth of Jute:
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i. Jute is a tropical plant and needs a hot and humid climate.
ii. It requires high temperature ranging between 25 °C and 35 °C.
iii. It grows well in regions of heavy rainfall, say about 120 cm to 150 cm.
iv. About 85 per cent relative humidity is needed during the period of its growth.
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v. Enough water is needed not only for growing the jute crop but also for processing the fibre.
vi. Jute grows well in light sandy or clayey loam which is replenished annually through flood water.
vii. Cheap and adequate labour is needed for growing and processing of jute.
Method of Cultivation and Processing:
i. Jute is generally sown in March-May.
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ii. The seeds are broadcasted or dropped into furrows.
iii. Recently line sowing by drill method has been adopted.
iv. The jute plant takes about 4 to 6 months to mature.
v. The mature plant grows up to a height of about 3 metres.
vi. The plants are generally uprooted or cut close to the ground.
vii. Bundles of jute stems are kept in water for about 2 to 3 weeks for retting.
viii. High temperature of water quickens the process of retting.
ix. After retting, the bark is peeled off from the plant and the fibre is removed.
After this, stripping, rinsing, washing and cleaning of the fibre is done. Later the fibre is dried in the sun and pressed into bales. The entire work is done manually. Thus plenty of cheap labour is needed. It is easily available in the thickly populated jute producing belt.
Areas of Jute Production:
After independence in 1947, about 75 per cent of the jute producing areas went to East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Most of the jute mills remained in India. We have improved upon the yield per hectare and have brought in more areas under jute cultivation. India is producing about 15 lakh tons of jute from about 8 lakh hectares of land.
Jute cultivation is mostly confined to West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Orissa. West Bengal accounts for about 70 per cent of the total production of jute in India.
India is unable to produce enough raw jute to meet its requirements. Bangladesh is the chief supplier of jute to India.