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Jute
Conditions of Growth |
Jute crops needs the climate to be both warm and wet, therefore the monsoon climate is ideal, More rain needed during the initial stage of sowing, and then maximum of 8 cm rain every other week. |
Regions |
All across India specifically in the North west states |
Additional Info |
Before Indian Independence, India held sway in Jute production in the world, and still continues to be the largest producer of jute in the world. |
Production/ Trade |
West Bengal is the top Jute producing state in India followed by Bihar and Assam. |
Second only cotton, Jute is the most natural fiber that is available in the world. The prime factors impacting the growth of jute are fertility of the soil and the climatic conditions of the place where it is grown. Botanical classifications of jute plant include the Corchorusolitarious and Corchorus Capsularis. India was the only country in the world to be producing Jute in the days of the British rule. The major Jute producing area included the delta regions of the Ganges and this after the partition went to become the current Bangladesh. In spite of that, Indian farmers have adopted new and innovative trends to ensure that India still stands on top of the jute producing countries in the world.
Jute Production in India
Though India remains the highest producer of Jute, there is an increased demand for jute products amongst the world countries and Jute exports from India earn revenues close to INR 900 crores. As a result, India ends up importing Jute from Bangladesh. The quality of this material is exemplary when compared to that produced within India, while the cost remains lower than ours. Net result is that India imports Jute from Bangladesh, processes it and exports Jute products worth many times more than the import value to all parts of the world. Jute production in India has considerably increased or we could well say, it has doubled after Independence and in spite of specific low points seen during 1986 and 1996, the crop has revived and is continuing to be the largest producer.
Methods of Growing Jute
The process of cultivation of jute begins with the sowing of seeds. The soil is treated and is ensured that it is fertile before the seeds are sown. The quality of the soil is very important to ensure good quality of jute crop. The farmers sow the seeds after ensuring the sedimentary soil is ready. Once this process is completed, the plant slowly starts growing and the farmers wait until the jute crops reach a height of 20 cm. Once the crops reach that height, the farmers separate them out in a process called thinning. This process ensures the fiber reaches the right thickness and the right quality.
In a time frame of about 4 months, the jute crops start to flower. This is an indication that the crops are ready to be harvested. The jute is harvested before the flowers burst open and the seeds disperse. The crops are cut right off the base leaving a very small portion of it above the ground. The jute that is harvested is all arranged with their stalks together and these are all closely held firmly and immersed in water for a period of about 20 days. This is the most important process in the harvesting of Jute and is called retting. The reason for doing this is to smoothen the tissues and to also segregate the best and the hurd, thereby getting to the fibers. These are then washed in cool, running water and are dried under the sun before being used.
Jute Growing States in India and the Best Season to Grow
West Bengal clearly tops the list of Indian states that produce Jute. Considerable quantities of the crop are also cultivated in Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Tripura and Jharkhand also have some areas where Jute is grown, though not in abundance. The fertile soil in the Ganga – Brahmaputra region is the main reason for the great production of the Jute crops. The other regions also have good quality of sedimentary soil and that is conducive for the Jute crop. Of the two varieties of Jute available, white jute seeds are sown in the period of February to March and the crop is cut during June and July. The other variety which is the lossa Jute of which the start of the cultivation happens between March and June and these are harvested during the months of August and September.
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