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Jute diversification: Indian scenario - I
S PAL
It’s a phenomenon, an opening of a new vista, a dimension unraveled to
herald the future of jute. Indeed the phenomenon of jute diversification has
now come to stay. The pre-1990 era was one of conscious cognizances about the
potential of the fibre that so long lay dormant on the research front. While
the exact time of emergence of jute diversification cannot inarguably be ascertained,
it is understood that some consolidation of activities in this direction got
started in the early eighties. While on the one hand the research institutions
came out with mechanisms to improve quality of jute fibre and innovative ways
of extraction of the fibre, simultaneous discoveries were made in processing
and value-added application of jute in different forms. These findings open
up a new vistas altogether for jute to flourish. Products like jute blended
cloth, particle board, pulp and paper, small scale spinning, floor covering
fine fabric for use as furnishing cloth and dress material, non-woven fabric,
jute blended blankets and geo-jute applications to name a few were enough mystify.
The policy makers were by then convinced of the potential in store. Directions
for action were set at the highest level. Assistance to the decentralized sector
soon took off. Raw material supply to these sectors and marketing of jute diversified
products, though in a small way, had started to flow, paving way for the initial
inputs for the jute programme that was to come. Although a varied section of
the entrepreneurial community had taken up manufacturing of or trading in various
jute-diversified products, not much was planned for this sector to initiation
of the UNDP assisted National Jute Programme of the Government of India.
Under this programme a number of newer process technologies and diversified
value-added products were attempted for the benefit of the organized and decentralized
sectors. Taking advantage of the multiple fibre technology, the programme initiated
R&D to make jute an integral part of the textile scene of the country by
involving textile research associations of the country and IJIRA. The programme
also attempted to provide infrastructure support for technology transfer, market
promotion and enhancement of exports. The emphasis of the programme was on entrepreneurship
development in organised and decentralised sector, human resource development
and indigenous machine manufacturing for catering to the requirement of this
new sector. It was projected that diversification of jute through the decentralized
sector would open promising possibilities for employment generation in a highly
decentralised manner in different parts of the country. Emergency of a new class
of entrepreneur was visualised who would manufacture novelty items using jute
yarn and fabric produced in organised sector. This was viewed as translating
into substantial rise in demand for raw jute. Production of particle board was
also seen as medium creating a significant demand for jute stick. The demand
for the technologies and enthusiasm of enterprises made it imperative for the
government to facilitate the transfer of technology uniformly and systematically.
Thus came into being the National Centre for Jute Diversification.
NCJD’s prime objective came to be one of commercialisation of technologies.
A scheme was devised to provide assistance to entrepreneurs interested in venturing
into this new territory of JDP. This scheme was called Jute Entrepreneurs Assistance
Scheme. When NCJD became fully functional in late 1995 it also called for additional
assistance by way of backward and forward linkages to entrepreneurs in the decentralized
sector especially those in the backward regions and in rural areas and the NGOs.
Other schemes were also propounded for the purpose. Larger involvement of men
and women was planned for worthwhile jute diversified activities. Simpler technologies
must be promoted in jute product manufacture to attract even the humblest of
entrepreneurs. Last but not the least is putting the medium of information technology
to the best of services of all beneficiaries. Jute being environment friendly,
naturally biodegradable and a versatile fibre has found wide acceptance even
in non-jute growing areas of the country and also in foreign countries. With
the ban on indiscriminate use of petrochemical products especially plastic carry
bags the opportunities in jute diversification products have gained immense
importance. The opportunities have proved even more worthwhile in view of its
potential to generate employment in a big way especially amongst women and rural
youth.
NCJD has been actively involved in promotion of various jute diversification
programs in several locations of the country irrespective of whether the location
is jute growing or not. Every such location has gained by way of employment
generation, consumer satisfaction and economic betterment. NCJD embarked upon
certain schemes operation that would enable permeation of the resources to the
grass-root level. The schemes are:
- Jute Service Centre Scheme to provide escort service to existing and budding
entrepreneurs as well as to provide necessary information to buyers/ importers
etc. NCJD has set-up Jute Service Centres’ to channelise activities at
the rural and interior locations of the country.
- Jute Raw Material Bank Scheme to make available jute and jute blended yarn,
even in small quantities, at mill gate price to handloom/powerloom weavers/
artisans in various parts of the country. Raw material banks also cater to
the supply of related materials, spare parts for looms and also dyes.
- Market Support Scheme aimed at providing marketing linkages and support
to producers of jute diversified goods in the decentralized sector.
- Design Development Scheme is targeted to improve the design content of
jute diversified products and inculcate the spirit of innovating newer design
for applying jute. Efforts are also made to locate ethnic designs, which could
be adopted for creation of newer product by using jute.
Apart from these, NCJD has gone even further to extend financial
support by way of interest free loan and also grant to specified category of
projects, for setting up production units in the field of jute diversification.
So far NCJD has extended financial support to 89 projects across the country
for setting up production units for manufacturing jute diversified products.
Another about 250 projects have been funded by way of grant for setting up production
cum training units with the assistance of NGOs. Activities that have been taken
up by NCJD during the past years, have culminated into yielding multidimensional
results.
To be continued
(The author is secretary, National Center for Jute Diversification,
Kolkata, India)
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