Secretary (Textiles) Reviews Status and Preparedness of Jute Cultivation; MoU Signed to Strengthen Jute Value Chain in North Eastern Region

The Ministry of Textiles convened a State Agriculture Conference on Jute today under the chairpersonship of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao Secretary, Textiles, to review the status of jute cultivation and preparedness for the ongoing crop season.

Senior officials from major jute-growing States including Assam, Odisha, Nagaland, Meghalaya, attended the meeting. The States of West Bengal and Bihar were not represented. Representatives from the Directorate of Jute Development (DoJD), ICAR-CRIJAF, National Jute Board (NJB), Jute Corporation of India (JCI) and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO were also present.

The meeting reviewed key aspects including:

• Current sowing progress and area coverage
• Availability and distribution of certified jute seeds
• Implementation status of improved cultivation practices
• Preparedness for retting operations and fibre quality improvement

The Ministry highlighted the continued implementation of the Jute-ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) Scheme, which supports farmers through improved seed distribution, mechanisation tools, and field-level demonstrations.

During the meeting, NRSC, ISRO presented the Jute Crop Information System, showcasing the use of geospatial technologies for crop monitoring, acreage estimation, and decision support, aimed at strengthening evidence-based planning and monitoring.

On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), National Jute Board (NJB), and Jute Corporation of India (JCI) to strengthen backward and forward linkages of jute cultivation in the North Eastern Region (NER).

The MoU aims to facilitate:

• Improved market access and value realisation for jute farmers
• Strengthening of procurement and aggregation systems
• Promotion of processing and value addition in the region

The Secretary, Textiles, emphasised the need for:

• Ensuring timely availability of high yielding varieties of certified jute seeds
• Strengthening retting infrastructure and practices
• Promoting mechanisation to reduce drudgery
• Enhancing coordination among Central and State agencies

Participating States were advised to closely monitor field-level progress and take proactive measures to address operational challenges during the season.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to supporting the jute sector through coordinated interventions aimed at improving productivity, fibre quality, and farmer income, with a focused push towards development of Jute cultivation in the country .

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