Executive Summary:
This document addresses questions regarding the jute industry, including skilled labor shortages, declining cultivation areas, assessment of the ICARE scheme, modernization of jute mills, and jute diversification programs. The Minister of State for Textiles provides responses detailing government initiatives and outcomes, covering the period from 2014-15 to 2024-25. Key initiatives include the Jute Resource Cum-Production Centre (JRCPC), Jute ICARE program, and the Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant and Machinery (ISAPM).
Key Points / Main Content:
Skilled Labor:
* The National Jute Board (NJB) implements the Jute Resource Cum-Production Centre (JRCPC) initiative to increase skilled jute artisans.
* NJB provides training at basic, advanced, and design development levels for Jute Diversified Products (JDPs) in collaboration with nominated agencies.
Jute Cultivation:
* Raw jute cultivation is strengthened through government interventions to enhance quality and productivity.
* The Jute ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise) program promotes sustainable farming via high-yielding seeds, retting accelerators, and modern techniques.
* Jute ICARE expanded from 130 blocks (110,893 hectares, 7 states) in 2020-21 to 289 blocks (2,15,246 hectares, 10 states) by 2024-25.
ICARE Assessment:
* The National Productivity Council's 2018-19 evaluation of the Jute ICARE pilot showed positive outcomes.
* Improvements included enhanced fiber quality, an 8.65% reduction in cultivation costs, and a decrease in retting time from 20 to 13 days.
* The project led to increased certified seed adoption, a yield rise to 2,594.25 kg/hectare, and a 15% increase in farmer income.
Jute Mills:
* There are 119 jute mills in India: 6 Government of India-owned, 1 each owned by Tripura and Odisha, 1 cooperative in Assam, and 111 privately owned.
* The Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant and Machinery (ISAPM) from 2014-15 to 2020-21 modernized the industry.
* Under ISAPM, ₹71.76 crore was disbursed to 199 jute mills and MSME JDP units.
Jute Diversification Program:
* Under the National Jute Development Programme (NJDP), NJB continued JRCPC from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
* 100 training programs were organized through 61 agencies across 12 states, benefitting 2,242 artisans and Women Self-Help Group (WSHG) members.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
Impact: Increased income due to higher yields and reduced cultivation costs through the Jute ICARE program.
Action Required: Adopt sustainable and scientific farming practices, utilize high-yielding seeds, and employ modern agronomic techniques.
Jute Artisans:
Impact: Enhanced skills and employment opportunities through JRCPC training programs.
Action Required: Participate in basic, advanced, and design development training programs to improve JDP production skills.
Jute Mills (Government & Private):
Impact: Modernization of facilities through the ISAPM scheme.
Action Required: Utilize modern, technologically advanced equipment to replace outdated machinery, contributing to industry upgrades.
Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs):
Impact: Skill development and economic empowerment through participation in jute diversification training programs.
Action Required: Participate in the JRCPC training programs under NJDP to enhance skills and improve income-generating opportunities.
National Jute Board (NJB):
Impact: Responsible for implementing key initiatives (JRCPC, ISAPM, NJDP) to support the jute industry.
Action Required: Continue to collaborate with agencies, organize training programs, and disburse incentives to modernize and develop the jute sector.
Key Entities Referenced
Jute Industry: The industry focused on the production and processing of jute fiber.
JuteICARE Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise programme: A Government of India initiative promoting sustainable and scientific farming practices for jute cultivation by providing high-yielding variety certified seeds, introducing retting accelerators, and encouraging modern agronomic techniques.
National Jute Board NJB: A government organization responsible for promoting the development of the jute sector in India.
Jute Resource CumProduction Centre JRCPC: An initiative implemented by the National Jute Board to enhance the number of skilled artisans in the jute sector through training programs.
National Jute Development Programme NJDP: An ongoing program under which JRCPC is being implemented, aimed at developing the jute sector.
Tripura: A state in India that owns one jute mill.
Odisha: A state in India that owns one jute mill.
Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant and Machinery ISAPM: A scheme implemented by NJB from 2014-15 to 2020-21 to modernize the jute industry by providing incentives for the acquisition of modern machinery.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2718
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2025
SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR IN JUTE INDUSTRY
2718. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:
Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री
be pleased to state :
(a) whether the Government intends to introduce appropriate policy measures to address shortage of
skilled labours in Jute Industry, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether area of jute cultivation has declined, if so, the manner in which the Government aims to
address the challenge of area decline, State/district-wise;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of ICARE schemes for jute cultivation,
production and improvement in quality and if so, the details of the assessment reports;
(d) the number of Government owned and private jute mills along with the number of it that have been
modernized and upgraded;
(e) the details of total utilization of money sanctioned for the modernization of mills; and
(f) the details of registered farmers and total number of training centres set up under the jute
diversification programme?
उत्तर
ANSWER
वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा)
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES
(SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)
(a): Government of India, through the National Jute Board (NJB), is implementing the Jute Resource-
Cum-Production Centre (JRCPC) initiative to enhance the number of skilled artisans in the jute
sector. Under this initiative, NJB, in collaboration with nominated agencies, provides training at various
levels (Basic, Advance & Design Development) focused on the production of a wide range of Jute
Diversified Products (JDPs).
(b): Raw jute cultivation in India is being actively strengthened through targeted government
interventions aimed at enhancing both quality and productivity. Recognizing the challenges posed by
factors such as crop diversification, variable rainfall, input-related constraints, and market fluctuations,
the Government of India launched the Jute-ICARE (Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting
Exercise) programme. This initiative promotes sustainable and scientific farming practices by providing
high-yielding variety (HYV) certified seeds, introducing retting accelerators, and encouraging modern
agronomic techniques. Since its inception, the programme has seen significant growth, expanding from
130 blocks (covering 1,10,893 hectares) across 7 states in 2020–21 to 289 blocks (covering 2,15,246
hectares) in 10 states by 2024–25, demonstrating its wide acceptance and impact in boosting jute
cultivation across the country.(c): An evaluation of the Jute-ICARE pilot project, conducted by the National Productivity Council,
New Delhi during 2018–19, confirmed several positive outcomes that underscore the effectiveness of the
initiative. The assessment revealed notable improvements, including enhanced quality of jute fibre, an
8.65% reduction in the overall cost of cultivation, and a significant decrease in the retting period from 20
days to just 13 days. Further, the project led to increased adoption of certified jute seeds, a substantial
rise in yield to 2,594.25 kg per hectare, and an overall 15% increase in farmers’ income, highlighting the
programme’s impact on productivity and rural livelihoods.
(d) & (e): There are a total of 119 jute mills in the country. Of these, 6 mills are owned by the
Government of India, while the Governments of Tripura and Odisha each own 1 mill. Further, 1
cooperative-sector mill operates in Assam, and the remaining 111 mills are privately owned. To
modernize the jute industry, NJB implemented the Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant and
Machinery (ISAPM) from 2014–15 to 2020–21. The scheme aimed to replace outdated machinery with
modern, technologically advanced equipment. A total incentive amount of ₹71.76 crore was disbursed to
199 (jute mills and MSME JDP units) during the scheme period.
(f): Under the ongoing National Jute Development Programme (NJDP), NJB continued the
implementation of JRCPC from 2021–22 to 2024–25. During this period, 100 training programmes were
organized through 61 collaborating agencies across 12 states, benefitting 2,242 jute artisans and
members of Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs).
****