The Jute Corporation of India raised the MSP of raw jute to ₹5,650/quintal for 2025–26 to prevent distress sales and support farmers. Through the Paat Mitro app and sustainable practices, JCI promotes fair trade, protects marginal farmers, and boosts eco-friendly jute cultivation across seven eastern and northeastern Indian states.
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Jute Corporation of India (JCI) hikes jute MSP to prevent distress sales and promote fair trade.
The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) raises the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for raw jute from ₹5,335 to ₹5,650 per quintal for the 2025-26 crop year, effective from July 1, 2025.
JCI aims to curb distress sales, where farmers sell their produce at low prices to middlemen due to financial pressures or lack of market access.
By guaranteeing a fair price, JCI protects jute farmers, mostly marginal, from exploitation and ensures the sustainability of the jute industry, a vital sector in eastern India, especially West Bengal.
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To bridge the information gap, JCI promotes the Paat Mitro app, a user-friendly mobile application launched in December 2023 by the Ministry of Textiles. Available in six languages, the app provides real-time data on MSP, JCI purchase centre locations, weather forecasts, procurement policies, and payment tracking. |
Jute, often called the "golden fibre," is a natural fibre derived from the Corchorus plant, primarily Corchorus capsularis (White Jute) and Corchorus olitorius (Tossa Jute).
Climatic Requirements for Jute Cultivation
Temperature => Jute demands warm and humid conditions. It grows best when temperatures range between 24°C and 37°C. The ideal mean maximum temperature is around 34°C, while the minimum should not drop below 15°C.
Rainfall => Jute requires substantial rainfall, with an annual mean of 1,000–2,000 mm. It flourishes in regions with heavy, well-distributed monsoon rains. Continuous rain or waterlogging, however, damages fibre quality, particularly for C. olitorius.
Humidity => High relative humidity, around 65–80%, is crucial for jute’s growth. This ensures the plant’s fibres develop properly and maintain quality. Dry conditions stunt growth and reduce yield.
Soil => Jute prefers fertile, well-drained alluvial soils rich in organic matter. It grows in slightly acidic soils (pH 5.5–7.0), common in regions like Bengal and Bihar. Soft water is essential for retting, the process of soaking jute stems to extract fibres.
Season => Jute is a kharif crop, sown between March and May and harvested from July to September. The monsoon season aligns perfectly with its need for water and humidity.
Environmental Benefits
Jute cultivation improves soil fertility, allowing farmers to grow other crops in rotation.
Each hectare of jute absorbs 15 tons of carbon dioxide and releases over 10 tons of oxygen, this makes it a powerful tool for climate change mitigation.
Jute is biodegradable, renewable, and eco-friendly, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials like nylon.
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Government policies mandate the mandatory use of jute packaging for both food grains and sugar. Specifically, 100% of food grains and 20% of sugar must be packaged in diversified jute bags. |
It is a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, established in 1971 under the Companies Act 1956.
It serves as a price support agency for jute farmers. It procures raw jute at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set annually by the government based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Its headquarters are in Kolkata, West Bengal. JCI operates across seven jute-growing states: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. In the context of climate change and sustainability goals, assess the potential of jute-based diversified products to revive the sector. 150 words |
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