Jute, also called the "golden fibre," is the second most important cash crop in India after cotton.
It is widely cultivated and used across the country, making India the largest producer of jute globally.
Major jute-producing states are West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.
The jute industry supports the livelihood of about 14 million people, making it an important economic activity.
Assam is the second-largest producer of jute in India, where jute is mainly grown by marginal and small farmers.
Major jute-producing districts in Assam include Nagaon, Goalpara, Barpeta, and Darrang.
Jute farming is labour-intensive, providing significant employment opportunities and economic benefits to local farmers.
Jute is an agro-based, export-oriented industry, playing a key role in Assam's economy.
Jute can be harvested between 100 to 150 days of vegetative growth.
For best-quality fibre, jute is harvested at the pre-bud or bud stage, though the yield is lower.
Older crops provide higher yields, but the fibre becomes coarser and the stem does not ret properly.
The ideal stage for harvesting is during early pod formation, which balances both quality and quantity.
Jute is harvested by cutting plants close to the ground using sharp sickles.
In flooded areas, the plants are uprooted.
After harvesting, the plants are left in the field for 2-3 days for leaf shedding.
They are then tied into bundles, and the tops are left to decompose in the field.
Retting, crucial for fibre quality, involves keeping jute bundles in water.
The bundles are placed in layers, tied, and covered with water hyacinth or other weeds that do not release tannin or iron.
The bundles are weighed down with seasoned logs or concrete blocks to keep them submerged.
Retting is best performed in slow-moving, clean water at an optimal temperature of around 34°C.
Retting is complete when the fibre can be easily separated from the wood.
Environmental and Economic Benefits of Jute:
Jute is biodegradable and an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, making it a promising solution as countries aim to reduce plastic use, especially plastic bags.
Besides traditional uses, jute has the potential for producing value-added products such as paper, pulp, composites, textiles, and other materials.
This breakdown highlights the economic, environmental, and agricultural significance of jute, particularly in India.
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