The Agro-Indian Industry consists of Jute Industry too. Before Indian Independence Jute agricultural areas lay with the present Bangladesh. Therefore after the secession of Bangladesh or Eastern Pakistan, Jute Industry declined in India. Today Indian government has realized that Jute Industry can be revived and brought to world standards.
Agro Industries in India
Jute is a bio-degradable vegetable fibre and produces eco-friendly natural product. Following cotton, jute is considered the cheapest and a significant fibre among all textile fibres. After 1960s, jute craze in India had gone down. It was particularly down when it was realized that most of the jute-growing lands have remained in Bangladesh. Other reasons are, traditionally jute was used in sacking and gunny bag. Consumption therefore remained lesser than the production. Jute has faced hard competition from synthetics. The cause of replacement of jute was petro-chemical industries. Therefore, traditional uses of jute have declined due to availability of other substitutes. Natural raw materials products got replaced by synthetic products. As a result, its demand in local and overseas markets had declined. Innovations and experiments with jute were quite slow. But men have never abandoned it completely in our country too. Many studies have been done on the pulping of jute in home and abroad. As a result there has been successful development of the various versions of this golden fibre. Jute, (Corchorus capsularis) is the one of the most important cash crops of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Brazil and others. Absence of modern marketing procedures also affected jute industry. As a result, the cultivation got discouraged. In this chain of development of the jute industry, employment was severely affected too. A section of the population got affected due to these reasons which led to the decline of jute industry and employment. Today the Indian government is determined to revive the jute industry of the country. It wants to make jute industry a diversified area. During the Tenth Five Year plan period, the National Jute Policy, National Jute Board Bill as well as Jute Technology Mission with an outlay of Rs. 355.5 crore have been approved by the Government in respect of the jute sector. The Government of India has launched “Jute Technology Mission (JTM)” with effect from 2007-08, spanning a period of 5 years (11th Five Year Plan Period), for overall development of the Jute Industry in the country and promotion of jute and jute products at home and abroad. JTM provides for “Setting up of Jute Parks for the Diversified Sector”. The Union Textile Ministry has decided to set up 9 jute parks. The minimum land requirement for establishing Jute Parks in N.E. States and other Tribal Areas was fixed at 10 acres land which is lowered in comparison to outside the north-east region. For setting up Jute Parks in NE States the subsidy fixed is 90%. The first one is placed in our home state and in our Cachar district.
The one at Silchar is named as Assam Golden Fibre Jute Park Private Limited. It is exactly located at Narsingpur area of Cachar district. It is around 22 kms away from the city. Our fertile district is however, not a principal jute-growing area like Dhubri and Goalpara districts in other parts of Assam. Cachar district grows jute only in 183 hectares of land. It is the first venture of its kind in the Northeast. It is a public-private entrepreneurship. The raw materials are presently provided from Bihar and West Bengal. But in future jute is expected to be grown in our district. As a result, a section of cultivators can be in huge economic advantage if they are trained and guided to enter the employment market in a meaningful way. Presently 60% of rural population of our country is ‘self-employed’. These people are employed at very low wage rates. Regular wage employment is only around 7% in the rural areas. The rural regions are agrarian based and this agrarian-based sector is seasonal. This has led to further employment problems. The case is similar in north-east, Assam and Cachar district. ‘Regular employment’ is lower in poorer states like ours. The challenge therefore is to enhance the skill of the labour force to enter the ‘regular employment’ category in rural areas. Assam and other states of the north-east has been experiencing turbulent political scenario from many decades. This has affected the growth and development of the region. As a result this region has been delinked from the national growth spectrum. The need for enhanced governmental interventions in social and economic development in the State has been recognized as a necessity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the topic of the document?
The document discusses agro industries in India, specifically focusing on the jute industry and the establishment of a Jute Park in Assam.
What are the main challenges faced by the jute industry in India?
The jute industry faced challenges due to a decline in jute craze after the 1960s, the partitioning of jute-growing lands into Bangladesh, competition from synthetic alternatives (petro-chemical industries), and slow innovation.
What steps is the Indian government taking to revive the jute industry?
The Indian government has approved the National Jute Policy, National Jute Board Bill, and Jute Technology Mission, allocating substantial funds. The Jute Technology Mission includes setting up Jute Parks for the Diversified Sector. Union Textile Ministry has decided to set up 9 jute parks.
What is the Jute Technology Mission (JTM)?
The JTM is a government initiative launched in 2007-08, spanning five years (11th Five Year Plan Period), for the overall development of the Jute Industry in the country and the promotion of jute products at home and abroad. The main aim is overall development of the Jute Industry in the country and promotion of jute and jute products at home and abroad.
What is the Assam Golden Fibre Jute Park Private Limited?
It is a jute park located in Narsingpur, Cachar district, Assam. It's the first venture of its kind in the Northeast and operates as a public-private entrepreneurship.
Where does the Assam Golden Fibre Jute Park Private Limited get its raw materials?
Currently, the raw materials are provided from Bihar and West Bengal, but there are plans to grow jute in Cachar district in the future.
What are the potential benefits of the Jute Park for the local community?
The Jute Park is expected to generate employment for local youth, train artisans, provide economic advantages to cultivators, and promote rural development. It is also expected to bring more balance to unemployment problems.
What kind of products does the Assam Golden Fibre Jute Park Private Limited manufacture?
The Park is currently training youth to manufacture and supply jute bags, jute sandals/shoes, jute particle boards, jute curtains, jute carpets, and other eco-friendly products.
What are the future plans of the Assam Golden Fibre Jute Park Private Limited?
Future plans include using jute in geo-textiles, paper-making, soil-management, and road construction. They are also planning to increase the number of stalls all around Silchar and mills are expected to come in this mega-project in near future.
What is the significance of establishing Jute Parks in the North-Eastern states?
Establishment of Jute Parks in NE States has a subsidy fixed at 90% and a lower land requirement. It aims to promote industry in a region that has faced turbulent political scenarios and has been delinked from the national growth spectrum.
- Citation du texte
- Mumtaz Mazumdar (Auteur), 2011, Agro Industries in India, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177647
