EXTENSION OF NORMS FOR MANDATORY PACKAGING IN JUTE MATERIALS
EXTENSION OF NORMS FOR MANDATORY PACKAGING IN JUTE MATERIALS I RACE IAS : Top IAS Institute coaching in lucknow I Current Affairs
EXTENSION OF NORMS FOR MANDATORY PACKAGING IN JUTE MATERIALS
General Studies Paper-3:
(Government Norms and Programs related to Jute Agriculture)
Context:
- Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the extension of mandatory jute packaging norms.
- The government made it mandatory to pack 100 per cent food grains and 20 per cent sugar products in different types of jute bags.
- These norms set for mandatory use of jute in packaging will be effective for the jute year 2022-23 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023).
Key findings:
- Government of India expands norms for mandatory packaging in jute materials under the Jute Packing Materials Act, 1987.
- This act meets all sustainability standards.
- This Act protects the interests of jute farmers, workers and persons engaged in the production of jute goods.
- Apart from this, it has also been made mandatory that initially 10 percent jute bags will be procured through reverse auction on 'Government e-Marketplace Portal' for packing of food grains.
- If there is any shortage or disruption in the supply of jute packing material or any adverse situation arises, the Ministry of Textiles in coordination with other Ministries can relax the rules and it can decide to pack maximum 30 percent of the food grains.
Its Advantages:
- This decision of the Government of India will greatly benefit the farmers and laborers of the eastern and northeastern states of the country, especially West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Meghalaya and Tripura.
- Packing of Chinese products in different types of jute bags will be of great benefit to the jute industry.
- Domestic use of raw jute and jute packing material will get a boost in the country.
- Technological upgradation and distribution of certified seeds will increase the quality and productivity of jute crops and increase the income of the farmers.
Jute:
- Jute is a naturally occurring golden, soft, long and silky luster, biodegradable, renewable and reusable fiber.
- It is obtained from the skin of the stem of the plant. Jute is known as the golden fiber because of its color and high cash value.
- It helps in protecting the environment.
Jute Production in India:
- India's first jute factory was established in Kolkata in 1854.
- India is the largest producer of jute followed by Bangladesh and China.
- However, in terms of area and trade, Bangladesh represents three-fourths of global jute exports as compared to India's 7%. India exports jute and jute products to more than 97 countries.
- West Bengal produces about 50 percent of the total jute of the country. Other major jute producing regions of the country include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Orissa.
- Today, after the ban on plastic bags around the world, the demand for Indian jute has increased.
Favorable Conditions for Jute Production:
- The temperature should be between 25 to 35 degree Celsius.
- The rainfall should be between 150-250 cm.
- Alluvial soil is suitable for jute cultivation.
Objectives of Jute based economy in India:
- Jute bags account for 75 per cent of the total production of the jute industry, of which 85 per cent is supplied to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Procurement Agencies (SPAs) and the rest is directly exported/sold.
- The government buys jute bags worth about Rs 9,000 crore every year for packing food grains, thereby ensuring a guaranteed market for the produce of jute farmers and workers.
- The livelihood of about 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farmer families depend on the jute sector, therefore the Government of India is making the following efforts for the development of this sector:
- To increase the production and quantity of raw jute.
- To diversify the jute sector.
- To promote sustainable demand for jute products.
Government of India’s programs for the Upliftment of Jute sector:
- Golden Fiber Revolution
- The golden thread revolution in India is related to jute production.
- Technology Mission on Jute and Mesta
- Jute ICARE:
- The Government of India has launched a special program 'Jute ICARE' to improve the productivity and quality of raw jute.
- Through this program, the government will provide different types of agricultural practices to 2 lakh jute farmers.
- These agricultural practices include sowing of seeds in rows, weed management using hoe weeders and distribution of quality certified seeds and decomposition of raw jute with the help of micro-organisms.
- Diversification of Jute Sector:
- To promote diversification of jute sector, National Jute Board has entered into an agreement with National Institute of Design and accordingly a Jute Design Cell has been opened at Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat).
- National Jute Board:
- The National Jute Board is the apex body for the promotion of Indian jute.
- Established under the National Jute Board Act-2008, the Board is headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- In the year 1984, Jute Manufacturers Development Council was constituted as a statutory body.
- But now this council has been merged with the National Jute Board.
- Jute Corporation of India Limited:
- It is an agency of the Government of India which provides support and minimum support price to jute growing states.
- This corporation was formed in the year 1971 at Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Jute Corporation of India is sending 100 percent funds to jute farmers for online purchase of jute under minimum support price and commercial campaigns.
- Apart from this, Jute Geotextiles and Agrotex Tileson have been promoted by various State Governments, especially in the North Eastern region. Union Ministry of Road Transport and Water Resources also has participation in this.
- Anti-Dumping Duty on Import of Jute Products:
- Government of India has imposed anti-dumping duty on the import of jute products from Bangladesh and Nepal with effect from 5th January, 2017 to boost the demand in Jute sector.
- Jute Smart e-Programme:
- The Government of India launched the Jute Smart e-programme in December 2016 to promote transparency in the jute sector.
- The main objective of this program was to provide an integrated platform by government agencies for procurement of B-twill sacking variety of jute bags.
Conclusion:
- These interventional efforts of the Government of India have resulted in considerable improvement in the quality and production of raw jute and increased the income of jute farmers to Rs 10,000 per hectare.
- As the jute industry is mainly dependent on the government sector and every year the Government of India spends more than Rs.7500 crores on the purchase of jute bags for packing food grains. Therefore, it is a positive step taken by the Government of India for the continuation of the demand in the jute sector and for the livelihood of the workers and farmers working in this sector.
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Preliminary Exam. Question:
With reference to Jute, consider the following statements-
- India's first jute factory was established in Kolkata in 1854.
- India is the largest producer of jute in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are true?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1, nor 2
Answer: Option C
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Mains Exam. Question: Discuss the programs to promote jute agriculture in India.
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