India's jute sector should diversify to cut govt dependence: Minister

15 Nov '22

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

India’s jute industry has to modernise and diversify its product range to reduce reliance on government purchase of gunny bags, according to minister of state for textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh, who recently lamented the negligible value addition and the sector’s dependence on government procurement on the sidelines of a Bharat Chamber of Commerce event.

A major portion of the ₹10,000-crore sector is dependent on jute bags procured by the government for the storage of food grains and other essential items. The sector employs around 2.5 lakh workers and around 30 lakh jute growers depend on it for livelihood.

The minister said that the Indian Railways is supporting the handloom sector by opening kiosks under the ‘One Station One Product' policy. A handicraft artist or a vendor can reserve a kiosk for a small fee for 15 days under the scheme.

Fifty seven stations under the eastern zone have been identified and the scheme is operational for the last three months, Eastern Railways additional general manager Jaideep Gupta was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Meanwhile, at another event celebrating the golden jubilee of the Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers Association of India (FOHMA), the association sought the minister's intervention in developing a mechanism to help small textile players handle volatility in the industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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