Jute Cultivation in India: A Sustainable Fibre Revolution

Jute, often referred to as the “golden fibre,” holds a special place in India as the second most important natural fibre crop after cotton. This remarkable plant is not just eco-friendly and biodegradable; it serves as a lifeline for many communities across the country. With more than 4 million farming families depending on it, jute plays a vital role in the livelihoods of countless individuals.

Imagine the bustling villages where these families work together, nurturing their jute crops and supporting each other. In addition to farming, jute provides jobs for around 370,000 workers in various industries. While it has traditionally been used for packaging, the versatility of jute has allowed it to make its way into textiles, paper, construction, and even the automobile sector. Its strength, affordability, and renewability make it an excellent choice for sustainable development, helping to create a greener future for everyone.

Major Jute-Growing States

India’s jute cultivation is concentrated in the eastern and northeastern regions, particularly:

• West Bengal (hosts 70 out of 94 jute mills)
• Bihar
• Assam
• Odisha
• Tripura
• Andhra Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Meghalaya
• Nagaland

Climate and Soil Requirements

Ideal Climate:

• Requires a humid tropical climate with 2,500 mm of well-distributed rainfall.
• Optimum temperature: 15°C to 34°C.
• Sensitive to extremes: below 10°C or above 43°C hampers growth.
• Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius) is sensitive to waterlogging.
• White Jute (C. capsularis) can tolerate waterlogging but fibre quality deteriorates.

Suitable Soils:

• Best: Loamy alluvial soils, particularly the new alluvium of floodplains.
• Ideal soil pH: 5.0 to 7.4
• Unsuitable: Acidic (<4.5 pH), shallow (<50 cm), saline or sodic soils.

Agronomic Practices in Jute Cultivation

1. Sowing Time

Jute cultivation sowing time varies across regions depending on rainfall patterns and soil moisture levels.

• Capsularis Varieties (White Jute):
  • Optimum sowing: Mid-March
  • Requires sufficient pre-monsoon moisture for good germination.
• Olitorius Varieties (Tossa Jute):
  • Recommended sowing window: Mid-March to end of May
  • Some varieties like JRO-632 should be sown after mid-April to avoid high temperatures during germination.
• States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh:
  • Sowing can be extended till mid or end of June depending on monsoon onset.

2. Sowing Methods

Jute seeds can be sown either by broadcasting or line sowing, but line sowing is preferred due to its multiple advantages:

• Ensures uniform plant spacing.
• Facilitates easier intercultural operations like weeding and fertilization.
• Enhances light penetration and air circulation.
• Improves fibre yield by 15–20% over broadcasting.

Row spacing:

• Capsularis: 30 cm between rows
• Olitorius: 25 cm between rows

Seed rates:

• Capsularis: 7–10 kg/ha
• Olitorius: 5–7 kg/ha

3. Fertilization

Fertilizer application is crucial for achieving healthy plant growth and optimum fibre yield.

• Organic Manure (FYM): Apply 5–10 tonnes/ha about one month before sowing. It improves soil structure and nutrient content.
• Inorganic Fertilizer Dose:
  • Olitorius: Nitrogen (N) 40–80 kg/ha, Phosphorus (P) 20–40 kg/ha, Potassium (K) 20–40 kg/ha
  • Capsularis: Nitrogen 60–80 kg/ha, Phosphorus 30–40 kg/ha, Potassium 30–40 kg/ha
• Foliar Urea Spray: Foliar application of 2% urea solution during pre-flowering helps boost fibre quality.
• Soil Amendment: In acidic soils (pH <6), apply lime 30–40 days before sowing to correct soil pH and improve nutrient availability.

4. Irrigation

Jute is largely grown under rainfed conditions, but water availability at key stages is essential.

• Requires approximately 50 cm of water throughout its growth cycle.
• At sowing, ensure at least 18–20% soil moisture. If insufficient, provide one pre-sowing irrigation.
• During early growth (germination to knee-high stage), 1–2 irrigations may be required if rainfall is inadequate.
• Avoid both drought and waterlogging—both conditions reduce yield and fibre quality.
• Only 15% of the jute area is irrigated in India; the rest depends on rainfall.

5. Weed Management

Weeds pose a serious threat during the first 6–8 weeks after sowing.

• Manual weeding should be done 2–3 times:
  • 1st: At 20 Days After Sowing (DAS)
  • 2nd: At 35 DAS
  • 3rd: Optional, at 55–60 DAS
• Herbicides:
  • Pre-emergent: Butachlor 50% EC or Pretilachlor @ 0.9–1.0 kg a.i./ha at sowing
  • Post-emergent: Quizalofop-ethyl @ 40–60 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS

6. Pest and Disease Management

Common Pests:

• Semilooper
• Stem weevil
• Yellow mite
• Bihar hairy caterpillar

Control Measures:

• Spray Chlorpyriphos @ 1 ml/litre or Cypermethrin 25% EC @ 1.0–1.2 ml/litre
• Neem oil sprays for eco-friendly pest control

Common Diseases:

• Damping off
• Seedling blight
• Root rot and stem rot

Control Measures:

• Seed treatment with:
  • Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg seed
  • Mancozeb @ 5 g/kg seed
• For standing crops: spray Carbendazim (0.2%) or Copper oxychloride (0.75%)

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Harvesting and Fibre Processing For Jute Cultivation

1. Harvesting

• Jute is ready for harvest in 100 to 150 days after sowing.
• The ideal harvesting stage is early pod formation.
  • Harvesting too early = good fibre quality but low yield.
  • Delayed harvesting = higher yield but coarse, brittle fibres.
• Plants are cut close to the ground with sickles or uprooted in flooded fields.
• After harvest, plants are left in the field for 2–3 days to shed leaves before retting.

2. Retting

Retting is the most critical step in fibre production as it determines the colour, strength, and texture.

• The traditional steep retting method is commonly used.
• Process:
  • Bundles are submerged in clean, slow-moving water.
  • Ideal temperature: 30°C–35°C
  • Duration: 10–15 days
• Cover bundles with aquatic weeds like water hyacinth and weigh them down to keep submerged.
• New methods like ribbon retting and microbial retting are being promoted for better quality.

3. Fibre Extraction

Two main methods:

• Single Plant Method (recommended for better quality):
  • Fibre is stripped manually from individual plants.
• Beat-Break-Jerk Method:
  • Quicker but results in an entangled fibre and lower quality.

4. Grading

Fibre is graded based on:

• Strength
• Defects
• Root content
• Colour
• Fineness
• Density

As per BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), jute is classified as:

• White Jute (W1 to W8)
• Tossa Jute (TD1 to TD8)

Recommended Varieties by State For Jute Cultivation

State	Jute Varieties	Mesta Varieties
West Bengal	JRO-8432 (Shakti), JBO-2003H (Ira), JRO-204 (Suren)	–
Bihar	JRO-8432, JRO-128 (Surya), JRO-66 (Golden Jubilee Tossa)	GR-27 (Madhuri), MT-150 (Nirmal)
Assam	JRO-8432, JBO-1 (Sudhangshu), CO-58 (Sourav)	–
Odisha	JRO-204, JRO-128, JBO-1	GR-27, JRM-5
Andhra Pradesh	JRO-8432, JBO-2003H	AMV-5 (Durga), MT-150
UP, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland	Similar to above combinations	–

Cropping Systems

Jute-based rotations:

• Jute–Paddy–Potato
• Jute–Paddy–Wheat
• Jute–Paddy–Mustard
• Jute–Gram

Mesta-based rotations:

• Mesta–Groundnut
• Mesta–Sesame
• Mesta–Sunflower

Also read about Cotton cultivation in India.

Government Support & Schemes For Jute Cultivation

1. Jute Technology Mission (JTM – MM II)

• Implemented from 2006–2014 in 10 states.
• Focused on certified seed supply, farmer training, retting tanks, IPM, and soil amendments.

2. NFSM – Commercial Crops (Jute)

• Launched in 2014–15 in 9 major jute-growing states.
• Encourages frontline demonstrations, training, and technology transfer.

3. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

• Allows states to propose jute-related programs under the SLSC’s approval.

Market & MSP Trends

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) increased from ₹2,200 (2012–13) to ₹3,200 (2016–17) per quintal.
• Market prices often exceed MSP, touching ₹4,500–₹5,100 per quintal in some regions.
• Main export markets: Nepal, USA, Ethiopia, Japan, Tunisia.

Conclusion

Jute cultivation is not only economically important but also environmentally sustainable. With proper agronomic practices, support schemes, and market linkages, jute farmers can secure profitable returns while contributing to a greener economy. The continued development of retting technologies and diversification of jute applications will further uplift the sector.

Source- This article is based on data and guidelines from the official report by the Government of India – Brief Note on Jute, published by the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).