Jute Cultivation in India – A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Jute Cultivation in India
• Jute Farming Practices in India
  • Climate and Soil Requirement for Jute
  • Sowing of Jute
  • Irrigation and Fertilizer Management of Jute
  • Jute Harvesting
  • Jute Fibre Extraction
• Major Jute Producing States in India
• Government Measures to Support Jute Farming

Introduction

Jute plantation has been in practice since ancient times. During the 19^th and 20^th centuries, its cultivation became indispensable due to its use in making sacks, boot lining, carpets, aprons, ropes, etc. The jute agriculture attracted people because of its properties like durability, versatility, strength, and low cost.

Jute crop is important cash crop of India. It is also known as golden fibre. It is the next important natural fibre crop after cotton in India. It is a 100% biodegradable crop.

Jute Cultivation in India

Jute is mainly grown in the delta region of the Ganges. That is why, the Jute cultivation in India is mainly concentrated in East India, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Odisha.

Today, India is the largest producer of Jute goods globally. It contributes 70% to world jute production. According to the Ministry of Textile, the total jute production in 2022-23 stood at 9100 thousand bales (1 bale = 180 kg).  Further, the total area under jute cultivation, as of November 2023, stood at 6.6 lakh hectares.

In India two major species of jute crop are cultivated. These are:

• White Jute: Its scientific name is Corchorus capsularis. This variety is used for making clothes, ropes, and twines.
• Tossa Jute: Its scientific name is Corchorus Olitorious. India is a leader in this jute variety. It provides fibre and its leaves are used for edible purposes. This variety is silkier, softer, and stronger than White Jute.

Jute Farming Practices in India

Jute farming in India requires specific climate, soil, and practices. Some of the practices in jute cultivation in India are sowing, irrigation, harvesting, and extracting jute fibres, among others. Let us see each practice briefly.

Climate and Soil Requirement for Jute

Jute crops are native to regions with warm and humid climates. The rainfall, temperature and soil needed for jute cultivation are:

• Rainfall required for jute is 2,500 mm.
• The temperature required for jute is in the range of 15 – 34° C.
• A mean relative humidity of 65%.
• Loamy and new grey alluvial soil of good depths with pH values of 5.0 – 7.4.

Sowing of Jute

The sowing time of jute varies from region to region. It depends on the amount of pre-monsoon shower received, availability of residual moisture in the soil, and the variety of jute species cultivated. But in general, sowing season of jute is from March – May.

Further, to sow the jute crops, either the line sowing method or broadcast method is used. But, due to several advantages of the line sowing method over the broadcast method, the former is largely used for jute farming.

In the line sowing method,

• First, prepare the land well until the soil has a very fine tilth. It requires ploughing and cross-harrowing 3 – 5 times followed by planking.
• Second, sow jute with a row spacing of 25 – 30 cm and plant spacing of 5 – 7 cm.
• Third, maintain a sowing depth of 2.5 – 3 cm.

Irrigation and Fertilizer Management of Jute

Jute cultivation requires a minimum of 50 cm of water and a soil moisture of 18 – 20% for its growth and development. The water needs are met either through rain or irrigation. Irrigation is especially required in areas with insufficient rainfall.

During the initial stages of growth, one or two irrigations at an interval of 20 days are required. This ensures that soil gets sufficient moisture which is very important for the germination of the jute seeds.

Fertilizer supplies essential nutrients for the growth of jute crops. Phosphorus, Potash, Nitrogen, Urea, and Compost are used as fertilizers. Generally, white jute species require more nutrients compared to the tossa jute.

Jute Harvesting

The harvesting of jute can take place after 120 – 150 days from sowing of jute. The harvesting usually occurs in October. By then the jute crop starts shedding flowers. Ideally, the harvesting of jute crops at early stages gives the best quality fibre.

After harvesting, jute plants are left in the field for 2-3 days for the leaves to shed. Then, the plants are tied into bundles of 20 – 25 cm for soaking in water. Soaking is carried out just after harvest.

Jute Fibre Extraction

The fibre of the jute plant is under the bark, and it surrounds the woody central part of the stem. To extract jute fiber, usually two methods are used. These are:

• Single plant extraction method, and
• Beat-break-jerk method.

Further, the process to extract jute fibre involves the following stages:

Bundle Stalk à Retting à Strepping à Washing à Squeezing Access à Sundry à Bailing à Kutcha Packing à Storage/Transport

Major Jute Producing States in India

West Bengal is the leading producer of Jute in India and contributes 80% to the total jute production. The major Jute Producing States in India are:

Government Measures to support Jute Farming

Indian government has taken several measures to promote jute cultivation in India. These are:

• Launched in 2015, the Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise for Jute (Jute-ICARE) aims to double the income of jute growers.
• Central Research Institute for Research in Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) has developed SONA – a microbial consortium – to enhance the quantity of fibre yield by 20%.
• Government has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of raw jute at INR 5,335 per quintal for 2024-25 season.