Union Textile Minister urges State Govt. to give certified jute seeds to farmers

 

Border Roads Organisation ( BRO) has  included 730 gsm Open Weave JGT in their Standard Schedule of Rates ( SSR)  (Front Cover)

 

Eco-friendly method turns raw biomass into high value chemicals

Kolkata, Jan 1 : An international team of researchers, including from India and Bangladesh, has developed a cost-effective method of converting non-edible agricultural biomass, such as jute, or the waste by-product from food crops, into "Xylose and Arabinose are healthy, five-carbon, low glycemic index sugars. Used in food products, these five-carbon sugars can play an important role in the management of blood glucose and insulin levels related to sucrose intake," Wu said.

In addition, furfural is one of the leading value-added chemicals produced from biomass because of the variety of uses it can be put to. Furfural and its derivatives have been widely applied as fungicides, pesticides, drugs and bioplastics, flavour enhancers.
 

"We foresee a significant economic improvement of these developing countries would happen if green bio-industries are developed for utilisingthese crop waste and turning it into a valuable product by using our discovery," said Tofazzal Islam, one of the co-authors and collaborators of this research from the Department of Biotechnology of Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman Agricultural University in Bangladesh.[for details see https://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-307712.html]

 

 

 

PLASTIC GETS A JUTE ANSWER
Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Dec 1, 2017, 02.00 AM IST

Sharing the common concern for environment, National Institute of Design in association with dairy cooperative Amul decided to curb the menace caused by plastic carry bags. As a part of her graduation project, Jharkhand-based Shanvi Gupta designed eco-friendly takeaway jute bags for GCMMF outlets. The first lot of 10,000 bags have already been manufactured by vendors and will be available in the city in next 15 days. Five such bags were launched on NID campus on Thursday noon in the presence of NID director Pradyumna Vyas, GCMMF managing director RS Sodhi, National Jute Board Secretary Arvind Kumar among others. [for full report see<http://ahmedabadmirror. indiatimes.com/entertainment/ hip-n-hap/plastic-gets-a-jute- answer/articleshow/61870397. cms>]

 

 

Meeting of Jute Advisory Board under the chair of Union Textile  Secretary  Smt Rashmi Verma at Kolkata on 19 April 2017

 

Chairperson NJB and Union Textiles Secretary madam Smt. Rashmi Verma,  Visit to the construction site of Patsan Bhavan at Rajarhat Kolkata on 19th April 2017

 

The Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated in NJB, HO by organising a BHIM uploading camp today (14/04/2017) at 11.00 AM.

 

From cloth banners to jute ID cards, the Kerala University Youth Fest goes green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Hon'ble Union Textiles Minister holding a joint meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India Sri.Radha Mohan Singh on 22 March 2017 to discuss issues related to jute Cultivation, Production and Quality Improvement at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. The success and widespread acceptance by the farming community of the Jute ICARE program of National Jute Board (NJB) was also highlighted during the meeting.

      

        Textile Ministry keen to improve jute quality, boost diversified products

 

        Chinese assistance for Bangladesh Jute Mills

 

         Now State Procurement Agencies can buy Jute Bags online from industry

New Delhi, Dec 26 (KNN) Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani has launched ‘JUTE-SMART' an online portal to facilitate purchase of Jute bags from the Jute Industry by the State Procurement Agencies.

She also launched Dashboard for Integrated Skill Development Scheme hosted on the NIC Cloud with access to public along with Bunkar Mitra – a Helpline for handholding of Handloom weavers.

Jute-Smart, an e-Governance Initiative is a Smart Tool for Procurement of B-Twill Sacking.

JUTE-SMART seeks to provide an integrated platform for use by all the stakeholders to allow easy access to information, more transparency and ease of doing business for the jute sector.

B-Twill Supply Management & Requisition Tool, in short, JUTE-SMART is a web based application developed to facilitate end to end transactions relating to procurement of B-Twill sacking.

Annually about Rs. 5500 crore worth of jute sacking is procured through support by the Government of India to support the Indian jute workers and farmers.

[see full report: < http://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/now-state-procurement-agencies-can-buy-jute-bags-online-from-industry >]

 

 

        NJB moves mill-workers use mobile Apps

        NJB holding camp on ease of cash-less transaction using UPI application and other
        mobile enabled possibilities. This one organised at Budge-Budge Jute mill where
        officers of different mills are being trained with the assistance of Bank officials.
        Officers will in turn help jute mill workers use the mobile application for their
        day-today monetary transactions. NJB is holding such workshops at other regions
        also inolving different jute mills so as to cover all jute mills in West Bengal.

       
Training on UPI application for Jute mills.
 

Jute Mill Workers Go Cashless

 

Vigilance Awareness Workshop on Tendering process held at NJB. Deliberated and moderated by Sri. PK Sahu, Chief Marketing Officer NJB.

 

Pledge taking ceremony on 'Vigilance Awareness' and 'National Integrity' as this board observes the week long program

 

 

National Jute Board Aims To Reduce Plastic Use

 

राष्‍ट्रीय पटसन बोर्ड, कोलकाता में दिनांक 1 से 15 सितम्‍बर, 2016 तक "हिंदी पखवाड़े" एवं 14 सितम्‍बर, 2016 को "हिंदी दिवस" पर एक रिपोर्ट ।  

 

 

HINDI DAY MESSAGE

 

Fabulous response to 'Colours of Independence' celebrations of NJB at Kolkata & Chennai Aug 9-14,2016. Compliments to CMO PK Sahu and his team under leadership of Secretary Arvind Kumar - T. Ayyappan at Chennai and at Kolkata Partho Basu & Sanju Narayan Bose at Victoria Memorial Hall and Hirak Ghosh, Prasanta Bhattacharyya & Arup Jana at Metro Plaza Mall.

 

 

 

 

NJB at the Rajbhasha Samaroh at CGCRI, Kolkata on 11 August, 2016. Speaking on dias His Excellency Sri Kesri Nath Tripathi Honorable Governor of West Bengal.

 

                 

 

Dissemination workshop on study of Socio Economic Condition of Mill Workers (on 8^th August 2016 at Kolkata )

 

Cabinet discontinues services of DGS&D in jute bag Procurement

...details

Jute cultivation on the rise in Srikakulam

THE HANS INDIA |    May 25,2016 , 01:48 PM IST

Srikakulam: The jute (mesta) crop cultivated area has been increasing in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts for the past three years.

"In the wake of rise in fibre price and availability of quality seeds, farmers are slowly attracting to cultivate jute crop. In 2014, jute crop cultivated area was 4,700 hectares in two districts and it was increased to 5,600 hectares in 2015, this year we are predicting that the crop extent would be increased to 6,700 hectares as farmers have started enquiring about the price of fibre and seeking quality seeds," said Jute Research Centre head scientist J Jagannadham.

"Thirty years ago jute crop was cultivated in 80,000 hectares in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts …cultivated area came down to 3,100 hectares by 2010 and now it was increased due to rise in demand for fibre products," explained assistant director of agronomy wing T Bhavani Shankar.

Rs 5,000 is enough for cultivating jute crop in one acre and one can get 12 quintals fibre from one acre and total income will be Rs 55,200. [read full report http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-05-25/Jute-cultivation-on-the-rise-in-Srikakulam/230329]

 

I-Care project

 

NJB's active intervention with farmers in different villages in Assam and Cooch Behar under Jute I-Care project held during 07-09 April 2016 on adopting modern practices for Jute farming for better yield and improved quality as experienced in 2015-16. Like in other regions farmers in Assam and Cooch Behar too are very enthusiastic about learning the new methodology as formulated by NJB in association with CRIJAFT and JCI.

 

National Seminar of Jute Diversification

National Seminar of Jute Diversification was inaugurated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon'ble Union Minister of State Textiles (Independent Charge), and Shri Babul Supriya, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Hon'ble Members of Parliament Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Shri Kamaksha Prasad Tasa, Secretary (Textiles), Ms. Rashmi Varma, Joint Secretary (Jute), Shri A. Madhukumar Reddy, Jute Commissioner Dr. S. Gupta  and other dignitaries at Rabindrathirtha, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata on 19^th February, 2016.National Seminar of Jute Diversification was inaugurated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon'ble Union Minister of State Textiles (Independent Charge), and Shri Babul Supriya, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Hon'ble Members of Parliament Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Shri Kamaksha Prasad Tasa, Secretary (Textiles), Ms. Rashmi Varma, Joint Secretary (Jute), Shri A. Madhukumar Reddy, Jute Commissioner Dr. S. Gupta  and other dignitaries at Rabindrathirtha, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata on 19^th February, 2016.

Pet-Beds made with JUTE

Jjute/wool pet beds are made with safe, natural, hard wearing fibres. Made in Hawke's Bay New Zealand. Seller claims that ‘this wonderful soft Kiwi Wool Pet Bed will keep your pet warm in winter and cool in summer. The unique properties create a micro climate for your pet, keeping his body temperature stable and bed dry and well ventilated to aid circulation and healing and help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism & arthritis'.

.... read more

 

17 January 2016, 10:20 AM IST  ET Auto.com :: An initiative of The Economic Times KOLKATA: The product range of Mercedes, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, Chrysler, General Motors might have one 'Make In India' thing in common in near future. If all goes well, global auto giants would start sourcing jute and jute components from Bengal as they are increasingly looking for ecofriendly products.

Financial Express, Kolkata December 15, 2015: The Centre has ensured a special protection to the jute industry by bringing jute products under the environment-friendly category. This has ensured that the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory use in Packaging Commodities) Act, 1987, would not be diluted.

So long the jute, according to government norms, was only considered as a labour-intensive industry and government policies were framed accordingly

The finance ministry in November 2014 recommended dilution and full phase out of the jute packaging Act by 2016-17. The government procurements were also gradually coming down to this effect. But the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister NarendraModi, decided that the minimum percentage to be reserved for packaging in jute should be retained to 90% in case of food grains and 20% in case of sugar. [for more refer ( http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/govt-comes-to-rescue-of-crisis-hit-jute-industry/178705/ )

Honble union Textile Minister still Santosh Kumar Gangwar at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Patsan Bhavan

Jute Commissioner taking a review meeting of the Jute Sector in the Jute Coordination Committee at NJB office on August 21,2015.

A section of the NJB Staff at the "Sadbhavna Divas" oath taking.

Oath given by Sri. Arvind Kumar, Secretary NJB to all Officers and Staff of NJB on 20th August 2015 in the Conference room.

The Hindu, KOLKATA, July 7, 2015 Updated: July 7, 2015 23:38 IST:

The SAC is the recommendatory body in respect of the Jute Packaging Material Act, 1987 (JPMA). This legislation was enacted to protect the traditional jute sector against alternative modes of packaging such as synthetic HDPE bags. Sacking accounts for around 65 per cent of jute usage and initially foodgrains, fertiliser and sugar were reserved for jute packing.

The SAC recommended that for the Jute Year 2015-16, jute packaging is reserved for 90 per cent of production of foodgrains and 20 per cent for sugar may be continued. However, it has been mentioned that these provisions may be relaxed in case of any shortage or disruption in supply.

Fukk report [http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/reservation-for-jute-packaging-to-stay/article7396064.ece]

Patna July 3,2015: National Jute Board (NJB) under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and Rural Works Department, Government of Bihar in association with Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) endorsed the use of jute geotextile (JGT) in Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for construction of roads in the State of Bihar through a day long thought evoking workshop at the capital city of the state, Patna.

[For full report: http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-83329.html]

The Geo-Textiles Laboratory of the Institute of Jute Technology an HRD institute under the University of Calcutta, part funded by the National Jute Board has been awarded Accreditation Certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories for meeting the General Requirements for the Competence of Mechanical Testing. NJB compliments the Institute for this remarkable achievement and wishes well for more significant recognitions in future in the field of Jute.

VOL 22 NO 145 REGD NO DA 1589 | Dhaka, Tuesday, April 07 2015: Bangladesh has virtually been driven out from Thailand's jute-bag market as India is cashing in on undercut rates utilizing its free-trade agreement (FTA) with the ASEAN bloc country, government officials said.

Millers claimed that a sudden fall in demand for jute bags in Thailand knocked down Bangladesh's export of the item to almost zero.

Recently, an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) decided that Bangladesh Tariff Commission will examine whether signing an FTA will help raise export to Thailand.

Ms Tasneem mentioned that India also has appointed a number of lobbyists with the Thai commerce ministry, prime minister's office and rice grower and miller circles that are helping them secure all current orders, which could have been of Bangladesh's.

"Even in an apparently saturated market India is currently exporting jute bags not only to Thailand but also from Thailand to Cambodia whereas they make these jute bags using Bangladesh jute only," she said.

According to the ambassador Bangladesh's $40 to $50 million worth of annual export to Thailand is mainly featured by jute bags and jute goods. The total export went up to $94 million in fiscal year 2012-13 when jute-bag export soared due to Yingluck Shinawatra government's rice-pledging scheme.

For full report visit:financialexpress.com

Financial Express, Thursday, Mar 26, 2015
Excerpts
The overall textile and garment exports, which also include those of jute, coir and handicrafts, are expected to reach $41 billion in 2014-15, compared with $39.3 billion a year before, mainly on higher shipments of garments, said the executives.

However, it will fall short of the official target of $45 billion, thanks to a massive slowdown in Chinese demand for cotton and yarn, trade and industry sources said on Tuesday. China, which usually accounts for over 70% of India's cotton and 40% of yarn supplies, has cut down on its purchases.

According to the provisional data, textile and garment exports, excluding jute, coir and handicrafts, touched $25.72 billion during the April-December period, up 4.7% from a year before. Handicraft exports had hit $3.9 billion in the last fiscal, recording growth of 18% year-on-year, but industry executives said the growth would be as much as 5-7% in the outward supplies of these items in the current fiscal. The jute and coir exports, although not so significant in the overall basket, are expected to grow in the 10-15% range.

For details visit www.financialexpress.com

Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar Union Minister of State for Textiles during a review meetings he held with various stakeholders of the jute sector, at Kolkata yesterday declared certain steps being taken to strengthen the jute sector. They include

Submitted by Abdul Gani on Wed, 07/01/2015 - 07:40
[http://www.assamtimes.org]

Good news. Soil erosion would no longer be a threat. Courtesy Jute Board. The central government agency is in the process to deploy an emerging technology to deal with the alarming menace of soil erosion because of incessant rainfall.
Known as Jute Geo-Textile technology, it is pushed by the National Jute Board which is cheaper and much more environment friendly.
According to sources, 170 trial projects are underway in 22 states. The result is encouraging. JGT was used in constructing a seven-km-long road in Tripura among the 170 projects in a very few other states in the country.
Assam is the biggest producer of jute in the country although there are very few jute mills in the state producing simple bags and other materials and yet to start JGT production.

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 24, 2014: [The HINDI BusinessLine]: The jute industry, which is struggling to cope with sharp fall in orders of jute bags, has got a breather. The Textile Ministry has decided that there will be no further dilution in the rules for compulsory use of such bags for packaging of foodgrain and sugar this year.
However, at a meeting with representatives of the jute industry recently, senior officials from the Textile Ministry said that next year, the mandated requirement for jute bags for packaging foodgrain will be watered down further, resulting in lower orders for jute mills.
"A meeting was called by the Textiles Secretary recently to review the minimum use of jute bags recommended by the standing advisory committee, as it had received adverse comments from the Ministries of Food, Finance and Fertilisers & Chemicals, which felt it was too high," Indian Jute Manufacturing Association (IJMA) chief Raghavendra Gupta told BusinessLine.
Much to the jute industry's relief, the Textiles Ministry decided to retain the recommendation of 90 per cent minimum jute for foodgrain and 20 per cent for sugar, as recommended by the standing advisory committee for the current season.
"But we were told to reduce our dependence on the Jute Packaging Material Act (JPMA) as it would be diluted more next year," Gupta said.

Dec 3 2014. Daily Independent, Lagos : The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has sought the Federal Government's support in repackaging of cashew in jute bags.
National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Anga Sotonye, made the request in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said the jute bags would enhance the packaging and quality of the commodity.
According to him, jute bag is the best packaging material for cashew nuts, but "very expensive".
Anga said farmers had been using polypropylene bag, which is affecting the quality of the nuts because it (poly bag) does not allow air penetration.
"We need the Federal Government's support in subsidizing the procurement of the jute bags. [see full report http://dailyindependentnig.com/]