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 Global bodies keen to develop high-speed jute machinery
 Kolkata, January 16, 2008: International Jute Study Group (JSG) at Dhaka and International Trade Centre (UNCATAD/WTO) are jointly preparing an action plan for sustained growth of jute industry with a special emphasis on development of high-speed modern machinery. The project which is funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), a global funding body, has already been prepared by Gordon Mackie, an international jute consultant and grandson of James Mackie, owner of the UK-based James Mackie & Sons, a world renowned jute machinery manufacturing company of bygone years.
   Mr Gordon has summed up his recommendation in the following heads—technical assistance, design and adaptation of machinery, assistance to capital investment in machine, selection of capable and interested companies engaged in machine building, tender processing to allocate development, funding to selected companies. The total value of the machinery development programme as outlined by Mr Mackie could range from $10-14 million or so and the estimated cost of action plan dub-divided internally and locally under further information head $3,20,000 and $80,000 respectively, under market development initiatives head $9,50,000 and $50,000 respectively, under agriculture to be met by public expenditure, under furnishing & Apparel $41,00,000 and $1,04,40,000 respectively. 
  The package, the consultant suggested, could be developed as a project. Bangladesh and India could ask for an EC mission and prepare a regional jute sector project. There are also various trusts funds that could be approached. Mr Mackie visualized that a grant/soft loan/aid programme as outlined would create a range of new technology jute processing machinery which would enable the jute mills to halve their requirement per tonne of yarn, cloth or bags produced. The cost of raw materials required to do so would be marginally reduced. However, cost of parts and maintenance of this high-speed sophisticated machinery would be higher.
 After allowing for increased interest and depreciation costs, the end results will be to reduce jute conversion costs per tonne of yarn of fabrics ranging from 10%-15%. The relative cost and quality of raw jute input or raw material used by the proposed new technology would remain at the same levels as currently used. 
 Source: The Economic Times
Sarda Group of Kolkata plans  for jute products  training centres
Saturday, 05 January , 2008, 11:29 
Kolkata , January 06, 2008:  The Sarda Group, which runs eight jute mills which together produce 500 tonnes of jute products daily, has firmed up plans to set up a training centre for unskilled workers in the jute industry. The Group also  plans to set up a jute mill in Alwar, Rajasthan, at an estimated investment of Rs 100 crore. The Rs 2,000 crore turnover Sarda Group Chairman Ghanashyam Sarda,  told newspersons that the jute industry was faced with a shortage of skilled manpower. Even so, the 100-year-old industry had not yet been able to set up a proper training centre that could impart education and technical skills to people seeking employment in the jute industry, he said. On the jute mill in Alwar, he said, “We have chosen Alwar as the location because the maximum consumption of jute bags and jute fabrics is in North India”. 
 IJIRA resolves not to join National Jute Board
 Kolkata, January 02, 2008: At an extraordinary general body meeting (EGM) of members, Indian Jute Research Association (IJIRA) two days before its annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday, the IJIRA board adopted a resolution not to join the newly formed National Jute Board. The agenda item of the EGM was ‘whether IJIRA will join the board or not’.
 While welcoming the members present, IJIRA chairman DC Baheti expressed the need for active existence of IJIRA for the entire jute industry. He felt that with efforts, IJIRA could back its place of pride in the jute industry and thus, it could give positive results to the manufacturing jute mills to solve their research and development problems and hence, serve the jute industry better.

Gunny mart sees divergent trends 
Kolkata, January 01, 2008: Trading in the Kolkata gunny market showed divergent trends this week. Backed by almost regular departmental buying against rabi foodgrain packaging requirements by the Union government, manufacturing mills could to some extent hold back selling in the open market. On industry’s labour front all was not normal as chances of trade union demand for linking DA to rise in cost of index might again come up and consequent lockout in some mills could hardly be averted.
  Standard B. Twill price was quoted at the previous level of Rs 27,000 per tonne as genuine buyers were scarce and mills normally refused to sell below that level as prices reached their bottom line, according to them. But Hessian went down further to finish at lower levels by losing Rs 1,500 over the previous weekend level to Rs 34,000 per tonne on sustained selling pressure. The volume of transactions was limited and closing undertone mixed.
  The Union government bought a fresh lot of about a fresh lot of about 27,000 bales or so for meeting rabi packaging requirement of states after a fortnight or so. Around mid-December, the authorities lifted 2.17 lakh bales for Punjab and Haryana against delivery this month but drastically reduced to 27,000 bales (Haryana- 10,000 bales and Rajasthan-17,000 bales) only for some unknown reason. 
  The entire departmental order was linked to the JCI jute in order to liquidate its old jute stocks to the extent of 20%. Demand from industrial users and commodity traders was few and far between. However, the domestic sugar industry,  just emerged in a small way to pick up their jute packaging requirements for sugar production. 
On the other hand, commodity traders preferred to go slow in buying their packaging materials due to low arrivals of various commodities and rising prices. Export business and enquiries were essentially poor as majority of overseas buyers kept their commitments light, waiting for an opportune moment. The fresh bouts of likely labour unrest in mills also acted as a restraint for foreign buyers from long term purchases.
   Major buyers like the US, the UK and some East European countries inquired for some selective items like special type of Hessian and fine yarn. The raw jute market also remained essentially quiet due to inadequate demand. - The Economic Times 
Jute sector gets 50kg bags order from DGS&D 
Kolkata, December 25, 2007: Jute industry has heaved a sigh of relief after receiving supply orders from the directorate general of supply & disposals (DGS&D), the official jute bag procuring agency, for the balance quantity of 50,050 bales for Punjab delivery of 50kg jute bags. This is a part of the latest Punjab indent of a total of 1.63 lakh bales through DGS&D.
  However, due to delay in receiving the supply orders from DGS&D, the manufacturing jute mills were not in a position to producing the jute bags meant for supply and needed extension of delivery time. It has also been granted by a fortnight or January 15. It may be mentioned that till recently the industry was facing serious problem arising out of non-issue of supply orders for a part of the latest departmental buying of 2.17 lakh bales by the Union government for Punjab and Haryana before the end of December delivery. The production and supply of the production control orders issued by the office of the jute commissioner were standstill as DGS&D did not issue supply orders to concerned jute mills.
  In recent communication, the jute industry drew the attention of the jute commissioner to the supply order problem faced by the jute mills when the deputy jute commissioner RK Pathak informed the industry that he had already taken up the matter with office of DGS&D, Kolkata requesting them to issue supply orders for the balance quantity of 50,050 bales of B.Twill bags on account of Punjab immediately, which bought a total of 1.68 lakh bales being the major partner of the latest buy. 
   DGS&D sources said of the total quantity of 1,67,990 bales for which supply orders had been issued, only 57,070 bales have been inspected and passed and 27,430 bales have been dispatched as on December 17. This only shows that progress of supply is very slow and satisfactory. As such, Mr Pathak has advised the industry to expedite the supply of ordered quantity so that backlog does not occur in future. 
 Source: The Economic Times
Three NJMC mills to be shut 
Bhubaneswar, December 22: The Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) has recommended closure of three Kolkata-based units of the sick public sector National Jute Manufactures' Corporation (NJMC). The mills are National Jute, Alexandra Jute and Union Jute Mill. In parallel, it recommended revival of three other units of NJMC, called the Khardah Jute, Kinnison Jute Mill and RBHM Katihar Jute mill in Bihar. 
  NJMC sources said, Union Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had taken active interest in the deliberations of Apellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (AAIFR) and BRPSE for revival of the Katihar unit. NJMC subsidiary Birds Jute and Exports Limited (BJEL) would also be revived on BRPSE’s recommendation. The recommendations were made on the basis of reports prepared by the textile ministry appointed operating agency Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) and internal assessments. 
   At one stage AAIFR has set aside NJMC's revival case and left it to the discretion of BRPSE and other government agencies. National Jute produced 120 tonnes of jute goods per day (tpd), while Alexandra produced 35tpd and Union 35tpd.  Khardah and Kinnison produced 65tpd and 82tpd. Katihar, a comparatively small mill, produced 30tpd. All the six units of NJMC stopped production in 2004. With net worth becoming negative due to huge accumulated losses the sick PSU was referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) in 1992. 
   NJMC's accumulated loss during that time was Rs 3500 crore and outstanding by way of government loans and other financial support was Rs 6000 crore. The entire NJMC workforce accepted the government sponsored Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Between 2006 and 2007, around 16,000 employees of NJMC have accepted VRS. The government earmarked Rs 978 crore for the VRS. Of the amount, Rs 325 crore was meant for VRS and Rs 208 crore kept for paying off bank loans and other statutory dues like provident fund ( PF), ESI and gratuity of employees of around Rs 135 crore, Rs 30 crore and Rs 49 crore respectively. NJMC officials claimed all workers were paid their dues. NJMC currently had 1400 employees of which 1100were clerical staff and 290 high and middle-level officers. One officer claimed, "The money earmarked for officers is lying unutilised as the government is yet to work out a VRS formula for us. We are being deprived of wage revision under Clause 13 of the Sick Industrial Companies Act (SICA) and this has created resentment and blocked things".
 Source: Business Standard, Kolkata.
Jute and Allied Fibres Production symposium in Kolkata
 Kolkata, December, 21, 2007: An International Symposium on Jute and Allied Fibres Production, Utilisation and Marketing will be held at Kolkata, during 10 to 12 January, 2008 organized by the Indian Fibre Society in collaboration with the Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), India. The 3-day symposium will observe the International Year of Natural Fibres 2009 with the purpose to hold discussion among the stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in the sector,  arouse interest and educate people on the benefit of use of Jute and Allied Fibers products. 
An alternative to plastic is bags made from vegetable fibre such as jute. 
 Dubai, December 19, 2007: Currently more than five million jute bags made in India are waiting to be distributed for sale in UAE outlets, according to Kankaria Group  one of the world's largest producers of jute. The Kolkata-based Kankaria Group creates bags of all shapes and sizes from a factory which has four jute mills and one cotton mill. Ashish Parmar, Dubai representative of the Kankaria Group, said jute bags were made essentially as food-grade bags for spices, coffee or beans, but the production of jute has grown phenomenally. "Supermarkets have to be part and parcel of the process to eliminate plastic. Some countries 
will be applying a total ban in plastics and in the UAE, using jute is the first step," said Parmar. "We want people to know there are alternatives to plastic bags and with some eco-branding, they can give stores a good image. With the Green Store Awards this will give them great exposure," he said. From a commercial viewpoint, advertising on a jute bag makes sense as the lifespan of the reusable bag far outweighs that of a plastic bag, said Parmar. Kankaria plans to launch jute bags during the Dubai Shopping Festival next month.   
Raw jute production may dip 10%
 Kolkata December 14, 2007:  Raw jute production during the jute year 2007-08 (July -June) is likely to witness a 5-10 per cent dip over the last year’s production of 100 lakh bales. However, the exact production will be known only after the Jute Advisory Board, a body representing the government, growers, industry and traders, 
reviews the actual stock position. In its last meeting held in October, the board had pegged the jute production at around 9.5 million bales. The Jute Corporation of India (JCI), following its recent crop survey, estimates a further 5 per cent decrease in production to 9 million bales. Of this, West Bengal will produce around 6.55 million bales of raw jute, according to the JCI survey. The market this year is facing an oversupply situation, forcing JCI to introduce minimum support price (MSP) for the commodity. This is mainly due to last year’s carry forward stock of nearly 3 million bales, with 1.6 million bales accruing on account of the two-month strike in jute mills. 
   The survey has also pointed to a decline in sowing area and productivity. There is a 10 to 15 per cent decrease on an average in sowing area in West Bengal this year.  In Orissa, jute acreage has declined 50 per cent this year from 7,000 hectares last year. In Andhra Pradesh, too, there has been a 10 per cent reduction in the cultivable area. “While the aggregate production of jute showed a declining trend, inter-state variations in 
production and area coverage have become more prominent, with West Bengal consolidating its position as the major jute producing state, followed by Bihar. Orissa, which had a vibrant jute cultivation in the past, is gradually loosing its jute acreage and is almost on the verge of becoming extinct,” a CACP (Commission on 
Agricultural Costs and Prices) report on the price policy of jute for the year 2006-07 said. 
   The overall cultivable area under certified seeds is close to 34 per cent. According to the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), the realisable potential of jute yield in West Bengal is about 38 quintals per hectare. The average jute yield in the state, realised so far, is about two-thirds of the potential. Binod Kispotta, the jute commissioner of the government of India, said, “Jute in West Bengal is facing a lot of competition from not only outside the country but also from within. The government has taken steps like introducing high yielding variety of seeds but many farmers have shifted from jute to oilseed cultivation due to lack of incentives.” 
  Source: Business Standard
 Jute sector to pay bonus with retrospective effect from April
  Kolkata, December 04, 2007: Bonus disputes have been settled following amendments to the Bonus Act. At yje weekend meeting convened by stste labour minister Mrinal Kant Bandhopadhya, the jute industry has agreed to pay bonus with retrospective effect from April 1, 2006 with a new ceiling of Rs. 10,000 wage. 
   Earlier, the bonus ceilings was Rs. 3500 and the industry had already paid the same before the last Puja and  immediately thereafter.  According to industry sources additional bonus payment would entail a liability to the extent of Rs. 1- 1.5 crore per mill, depending on the its size and number of workers.
  Source: The Economic Times
 Jute industry calls for changes in JMO notice
  Kolkata, November 23, 2007: The Jute industry has expressed concern over the continuation of circular issued by the consumer affairs & PDS department last year on the use of second-hand gunny bags for packing paddy and course grain. 
   In spite of repeated representation made by the domestic jute industry, no step was taken by the Union ministry of textiles (MoT) to correct the notification issued on jute mandatory order (JMO) in August this year.
 India bags Syrian, Ghana tenders for Jute products
  Kolkata, November 19, 2007: Indian jute mill exporters have bagged two global jute tenders, this time floated by official Syrian agency Haboob for supply of 50,000 bales or 22,000 tones of sugar twills valued at Rs. 73 crore and another tender from Ghana for 48,000 bales or 14,000 tonne of food grade jute products worth Rs.43 crore. 
   The successful bidders - all city based jute mills groups - are required to deliver the jute products within March next year. They have won the tenders as they quoted lowest prices, defeating other competitive bidders including BJMC of Bangladesh which happened to be traditional buying sources for Syria. Reports have it that Syria has been disenchanted by its failure of delivering the goods in time. 
 Source: The Economic Times
Empire Jute case sent to arbitration
 Kolkata, November 13, 2007: The Supreme Court has used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to refer the dispute between Empire Jute Co Ltd and the Jute Corporation of India to arbitration. The dispute was over the carrying cost claimed by the company and violation of the terms of the contract between the two parties.  
Cabinet approves Jute Board Bill
NEW DELHI, November  2, 2007: The government today cleared the National Jute Board Bill, 2006, in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament and to move official amendments in the Bill at the time of its consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks expansion of the functions and membership of the Jute Board and the definition of jute. 
   Announcing the decision at the end of the Cabinet meeting, the information and broadcasting minister, Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, said the decision was taken on the basis of recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on labour and related to the expansion of functions and membership of the Jute Board and the definition of jute. The establishment of a National Jute Board was envisaged in the government’s National Jute Policy, 2005. 
  The Jute Board is structured to serve the developmental needs of the industry and restructuring the operational arms in charge of exports and diversification to enable them to devise dynamic strategies for the export markets. The jute industry provides sustenance to more than four million people, including jute farmers, workmen, labourers and self-employed artisans and weavers.
Irregularities in B.Twill jute bags allocation orders rock IJMA meet
Kolkata, October 25, 2007:  Some irregularities in B.Twill orders and JCI-jute linkage in latest official jute bag allocation to supplying jute mills against departmental buying of one lakh bales of jute bags, marked October delivery, are now stirring the local jute industry and trade circles. The members of Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) decided that the mills would not buy linked jute from the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) in respect of those departmental buyers, such as FCI, who refused to pay the linkage price fixed by the jute commissioner (JC) for jute bag supplies.
   As usual JC has declared two sets of prices for B.Twill supplies with linked jute and without any linkage. It is understood that the difference of two prices is around Rs 3,000 per tonne of B.Twill jute bag (Rs 31,000 per tonne of B.Twill jute bag (Rs 31,000 per tonne with linkage and Rs 28,000 per tonne without). It is also seen that of late, there are frequent deviations from set rules and conventions in B.Twill allocations to some jute mills, which are active in the corridors of power in the Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi. 
   Taking a strong exception to this practice, some mills in opposite camp have understandably made an appeal before the Union ministry of textiles (MoT) for ensuring set rules for B.Twill jute bag allocations on the basis of spindleage of eligible jute mills. There is no response as of yet on the issue from the authorities concerned. As for raw jute supplied by JCI against B.Twill allocations, it has no other option but to sell part of its commercially procured (CP) jute relating to 2006-07 operation along with currently mopped up jute through minimum support price (MSP) operation. Understandably, JCI is doing so with tacit consent of the authorities concerned.
Source: The Economic Times
Jute industry pays 8.33% puja bonus to employees
Kolkata, October 17, 2007:  Almost all the jute mills in the country have paid minimum puja bonus of 8.33% to each eligible worker which is equivalent to one month’s pay with a cap of Rs 2,500 according to the Minimum Bonus Act. The bonus payment has been completed during the last fortnight or so, according to industry sources.
  There is no major labour issue now and the industry has paid the current dearness allowance based on terms agreed under the existing industry-wide tripartite wage agreement concluded on March 8, 2003, said Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) chairman, Sanjay Kajaria. Soon after the agreement recently, it had paid 200 points multiplied by neutralization point based on CPI index and another 57 points.He added that the industry has already submitted its comments on future labour wage pattern according to the terms of agreement. The only problem faced by the manufacturing jute mills now happens to be production in excess of demand.
  In fact, the industry has been producing 1.5 lakh tonne of jute products a month now and could sell only a part of it. This is because of the rapid switchover to cheaper plastic bags by the sugar industry, openly violating the mandatory Jute Packaging Act. The lacunae in the notification regarding compulsory use of new jute bags has also raised the use of secondhand bags.
Source: The Economic Times
  JCI steps in, buys 3 lakh quintal to halt distress sale by growers
Kolkata, October 16, 2007: With festivity round the corner, raw jute prices are ruling below the official minimum support price (MSP) level of Rs 1,063 per quintal basis TD-5 (Assam) in a number of primary and secondary markets in upcountry centres.  This has offered an opportunity for the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) to intervene in weak rural markets for its MSP operation in the interest of growers. It is understood that JCI has already managed about three lakh quintal through MSP procurement. Out of this, it has sold 2.70 lakh quintals to the manufacturing mills by way of B.Twill linkage production control orders. These have been issued by the office of the jute commissioner for supply of one lakh bales of 50-kg bags against October delivery. These bags are required by Chhattisgarh to meet packaging requirements against the kharif 2007 foodgrain procurement.
    Some B.Twill awarded mills have already opened letters of credit in banks in favour of JCI but the corporation is yet to finalise allocations of required grades and quantity to the mills. Asked about the latest estimate of the new crop and the price situation, Jute Balers’ Association (JBA) secretary P Banerjee said jute stored in godowns had lessened in quality and grade due to water logging in some growing districts and villages. Districts affected by the recent downpour include Nadia, Murshidabad, Midnapore, Malda and West Dinajpur among others. JBA secretary said prices of various grades of raw jute were quoted either at par or below MSP benchmark in upcountry primary and secondary markets and the downward trend in fibre prices was expected to continue till the end of November.
   Daily raw jute arrivals from upcountry markets to Kolkata terminal markets, during the current season beginning July, remained negligible. Total arrivals in the month did not exceed 50,000 bales or so and the industry started the season with stocks of 7.47 lakh bales.However, there was a carryover of 24 lakh bales from the previous season. The overall comfortable supply situation eased worries for manufacturing mills. This was reflected in the comparatively slow rise in raw jute, which hardly exceeds Rs 1,300 per quintal basis TD-5 in Kolkata. In other words, fibre prices of TD-5 grade ruled around Rs 1,070 per quintal, rising to Rs 1,200 per quintal now.
Source: The Economic Times
 Govt textile hub to end sector woes
New Delhi, October 8, 2007: The government is planning to set up a textile hub called ‘Textilpolis’, which would align the efforts of different export promotion councils (EPCs) and build industry database. An SPV, to be set up to run the hub, would be the apex body overseeing the promotional efforts for the sector and advise the government in policymaking. 
   “At present, there is no integrating force that brings in a coherent policymaking for the entire textile chain,” says a government official explaining the need for such a hub. There are 10 export promotion councils for different segments of the textile industry such as apparel, silk and wool. “Many a time they work at cross purposes trying to take away business from each other,” says the official. 
   The Textilpolis is expected to address this. “The effort would be to get the highest realisation for our products,” he adds. This means the apex body would align each segment’s interest with the overall objective of enhancing India‘s textile exports. Industry observers feel that Textilpolis may be able to address the lack of coordination among different EPCs, but would do little more than that. “Textilpolis would be like a super EPC and may not do anything more than what other EPCs are already doing,” says the head of a leading textile association. 
  An SPV called ‘Council for Trade and Manufacturing in Textiles’ would be incorporated to run Textilpolis. It will have membership from manufacturers, traders and associations from across the value chain, including accessories and machinery manufacturers. The aim is to give representation to all stakeholders. 
   The government will provide a lumpsum grant for a maximum of Rs 300 crore to the SPV, beyond which the latter will have to raise on its own for initial or recurring expenses. The council will be formed as soon the proposal gets nod from the Cabinet. 
Source: The Economic Times
Exporters to get additional duty drawback
 New Delhi, October 08, 2007: In a move that will expedite payment of pending drawback amount to exporters, the finance ministry has agreed to provide additional duty drawback announced in June this year without insisting on submission of fresh documents. 
  The drawback rate for several products was enhanced in the first export-promotion package finalised by the government to fight rupee appreciation, but exporters have not been given the extra drawback that they were entitled to due to the enhanced rates since the revenue department insisted on submission of more documents. 
   Additional drawback would be calculated on the basis of the documents submitted earlier to obtain drawback at the original rates. The difference between the original drawback and the enhanced entitlement would be credited to the accounts of exporters directly.
Source: The Economic Times
DGFT deletes confusing paras from export promotion scheme
KOLKATA, October 02, 2007:  The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has deleted two confusing provisions that were introduced in the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme this April. Under the EPCG scheme, capital goods and spares can be imported at 5 per cent duty, subject to export obligation of 6-8 times the duty saved to be fulfilled in 8-12 years. However, the export obligation must be over and above the annual average exports achieved in the previous three years. 
 This meant that exporters who were increasing their exports every year were required to take up more and more annual average exports in the subsequent years. There was, however, a provision that exports made in discharge of obligation against EPCG authorizations/licences issued earlier (but not redeemed) need not be counted. Even so, there were representations that the condition of maintaining annual average exports put greater burden on exporters who increased their exports every year. 
   The commerce minister, therefore, directed that wherever more than one concurrent EPCG authorizations has been issued, the fresh EPCG authorizations should build upon the last required average export obligation only, notwithstanding the actual achievements of the previous year. This way better performance would not be penalised, said the commerce minister.
Source: Business Standard, Kolkata 
Bengal wants to buy NJMC mills 
Kolkata: The West Bengal government is keen to buy five mills put up for sale by the central government owned National Jute Manufacturer Corporation (NJMC) at the reserve price notified for the sale process but the Union Government is not responding to its offer on the issue. 
  “The state government expressed its willingness to buy the mills at the reserve price some months back, in a latter to the Union textiles minister S S Vaghela, but unfortunately the ministry of the Government of India has not responded,” said Nirupam Sen, minister for commerce and industries of West Bengal. The total land available at five mills of the NJMC in the state is about 200 acre. The state government is keen to buy the mills and redevelop the land for industrial use. 
Source: Business Standard, Kolkata, 27.09.2007
Low-grade quality jute and future trade troubles jute growers in Nadia
KRISHNAGAR, September, 30, 2007: Low-grade quality of production and the recent trouble in future trade in jute have thrown thousands of jute growers in Nadia into a debt-trap. Early this month, Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) started jute contracts and instead of fixing jute prices only on the basis of spot prices in Kolkata where mill owners dictate prices, MCX factored in prices from production centres where prices were higher. The production centres include Nadia, Murshidabad and North and South 24-Parganas. 
   But, mill owners who had earlier managed to get the raw jute at low rates have started crying foul and are now lobbying the state government and the Centre to ban the future contract. Across the district, jute cultivators could not harvest their crops in time as most of the ponds, roadside ditches and water bodies had dried up owing to shortfall in rains last month. Since the jute cultivation was still standing in the fields, waiting for rains to fill up water-bodies a few days before, the cultivators had no chance to sow aman paddy in the jute fields. Though some jute growers have been forced to harvest their jute, to pay back their debts, the quality of these jute fibres were invariably poor and the farmers have not been able to earn as much from them as they normally do. According to principal agriculture officer, Mr Kalyan Kumar Das, the district has a net crop area 272,135 hectare of which jute’s share is 80,300 hectare. 
   Last year jute was cultivated in about 72,000 hectare. Of the net crop area, the normal area for aman cultivation is about 1,22,000 hectare while last year it was cultivated in about 106,000 hectare of land. This year the target area for aman farming is 145,000 hectare but only 40 per cent of the targeted aman land has been cultivated. “Owing to huge shortfall in rains, the jutes grown in the field this year were mostly low-grades. So, farmers could not earn more profit than the previous year, by which, they could pay back their debts. This year, the farmers had to sell their jute produce at the rate of Rs 1100 per quintal while it was Rs 1600 per quintal last year. If the prices of raw jutes are further slashed then Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will come in the market for setting minimum support price to the farmers,” Mr Das said. 
 Source: The Statesman 
                                                                                             
Jute goods duty drawback dates worry exporters 
Kolkata, September 20, 2007:   The two government notifications issued on different dates on duty drawback for jute goods, one effective from April 1 this year another effective from July 1 in 2007, have created lot of anomalies in respect of export of jute goods. So, the government should take immediate action for merging the two notifications into a single one and make it effective from April 1 this year.  This was suggested by Hrishikesh Shroff, president of Gunny Traders Association (GTA). Mr Shroff said jute goods exporters will feel relieved if the revised duty drawback rates become effective from April 1 this year.
  Exports of Indian jute goods drastically fell to 1.65 lakh tonne in 2006-07 from 2.4 lakh in 2005-06 due to a supply crunch arising out of a 63 –day strike in jute mills beginning January 5. Adding to these woes was the stiff competition from Bangladesh, which offered lower prices for sacking and yarn in export markets. Due to this, jute goods exporters faced a sharp erosion in their margins, which came under further pressure after the withdrawal of the external marketing assistance.
  According Mr Shroff, raw jute production in 2007-08 is estimated at 115 lakh bales, which will be 15 lakh bales higher than 100 lakh bales produced in 2006-07. The availability of raw jute in the current jute season will improve further as the year opens with a carryover stock of 24 lakh bales. The government has placed orders for 7 lakh B-Twill bags for the departmental buying to package kharif foodgrain. The order is likely to rise further by the end of this month, said Sanjay Kajaria, president of Indian Jute Mills Association.
Source: The Economic Times, Kolkata.
Use of jute geo-textile in roads stressed
  Kolkata, September 20, 2007: The textile engineering division under the institute Engineers (India) is pitching for wider application of technical textile in civil engineering. SM Chatterjee, a council member of the Institute of Engineers (INDIA) and the former vice chancellor of the Bengal Engineering &Science University, said the US and Europe had made it mandatory to use synthetic and jute geo-textile in road construction. But, India is yet to take off. Use of both synthetic and jute geo-textile enhances the life of a road and makes it water resistant.  Jute geo-textile has been used in making only 47.5 km roads in five states, namely West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojana. Synthetic geo-textile has been used in constructing only a stretch of the national highways.
  India should lay emphasis on using jute geo-textile as synthetic geo-textile has to be imported, Chatterjee said. In west Bengal, the state irrigation department has started using jute geo-textile for soil conservation and making river embankment, but the public works department is not yet using it in road construction. The Indian Jute Research Association, National Institute of Research on Jute & Allied Fibre Technology and the Institute of Jute Technology are working on geo-textile, Chatterjee said. SK Bannerjee, a council member, said that the Union textile ministry has created a Rs 10-crore research and development fund for geo-textile in eastern India under the Jute Technology Mission.
Source: Financial Express,Kolkata    
                                                                                                                            
 IJMA for easy acces to jute funds
  KOLKATA, September. 19, 2007:   Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) has been working with the Union government to finalise the modalities of accessing fund by the jute mills earmarked under Jute Technology 
Mission, the association's chairman Mr Sanjay Kajaria said speaking at the 82nd annual general meeting of Gunny Traders Association here today. 
  Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hrishikesh Shroff, president, Gunny Traders Association observed: "Instead of reviewing the Jute Packaging Material Act (JPMA) once in every year, the extension of the order should be granted for a longer period of say five to 10 years." 
  As regards raw jute production, Mr Shroff said that they are hoping production to touch 115 lakh bails in the financial year 2007-08 against the previous year's production of 100 lakh bails. 
Source: Statesman News Service
EIJHE wants to become an MCX clearing member
  Kolkata, September 15, 2007:   East India Jute & Hessian Exchange Ltd (EIJHE) in a bid to survive is looking forward to become a clearing member of the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). Arun Kumar Seth, president, said EIJHE has to stop jute futures as there is no more volumes with it. 
  MCX has become the fourth commodity exchange to try out with the raw jute futures, and is currently handling almost the entire volume. All the other exchanges that have tried out forward and futures trading in jute including EIJHE, the National Commodity & Derivative Exchange (NCDEX) and the National Multi-commodity Exchange (NMCE) have failed.
  MCX vice president Arindam Saha said currently the platform is trading raw jute worth Rs 20 crore every day. If EIJHE joins as a clearing member, the impact cost of trading for its members would be very low. Meanwhile, the Indian Jute Manufacturers Association (IJMA) has urged the Union textile ministry to prevent MCX from jute futures. Saha said there are only a few jute mills under the IJMA and the government is not likely to give much attention to its demand. 
Source: Financial Express, Kolkata 
 Vaghela orders probe into JCI 
  Kolkata, September 10, 2007: Union Minister of Textiles Shankersinh Vaghela has instructed a probe into the functioning of Jute Corporation of India (JCI) to find out why a financially appropriate decision was not taken when commercial purchase operations were started, fix responsibility for the loss of more than Rs 22 crore to the government exchequer and take up the matter with utmost seriousness as it raises questions on the role of JCI CMD. 
  The minister feels that the loss on account of commercial purchase operations has been caused by 'error of judgment and inappropriate administrative handling' on part of JCI and its chairman and managing director R C Tewari, who had personally piloted the issue of commercial purchase two years ago. 
  Textile secretary A K Singh with assistance from the Jute Commissioner has been asked to submit the inquiry report within September 15. Singh has been asked to visit Kolkata to carry out the probe. The probe would be conducted by a joint secretary level officer attached to the ministry. Vaghela feels the issue needs to be taken up urgently as the loss can be taken up by Parliament or its committees. 
 Source: Business Standard   
 JK Jute Mills sold to Sarda-Mull 
 Kanpur,  September 7, 2007: JK Jute Mills Co Ltd, the mother unit of the JK group, has been sold by the promoters to West Bengal-based Sarda-Mull group, owners of seven jute mills and about 4,000 looms in West Bengal. However, it is not known how much the firm will be sold for. JK officials said the deal was yet to be fully implemented because the new owners had paid only for about 14 per cent of the shares and had agreed to pay for the remaining shares held by the promoters. 
 The promoters holding has been acquired by the Sarda-Mull group for Rs 5.10 a share. They have already inserted an advertisement, after approval of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), offering to buy other shares as well.
Source: Business Standard
 RECONSTITUTED JUTE ADVISORY BOARD
  Rajya Sabha, September 5, 2007: The Minister of State for Textiles, Shri E.V.K.S. Elangovan, informed the Rajya Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Tapan Kumar Sen and Shri Mohammed Amin that the Jute Advisory Board has been reconstituted vide Order dated 14th May, 2007 for a period of two years. The Minister further informed the House that at present, the Jute Advisory Board has 2 Government official members from non-jute growing States, 8 government official members from jute growing States, 10 non-official members from jute growing States and 11 non-official members from non-jute growing States. Thus, out of the total 31 members of the Board, 18 are from jute growing States. 
West  Bengal gets nod for three jute parks
  Kolkata, September 3, 2007:  The Centre has put its stamp of approval on three jute parks in Bengal, a much needed step for reviving the industry, principal secretary of small-scale cottage industry G.D Gautama said.
These jute parks will be developed at Rajnagar (Murshidabad), Raiganj (North Dinajpur) and Cooch Behar. “We had been waiting for the Centre’s nod since February. Each park would come up on 40-50 acres of land. 
Jute goods and jute-based products would be produced and marketed from these parks,” Gautama said. After banning the use of plastic products, the future of jute industry is on the upswing. According to Gautama, if marketed in a professional manner, jute products can regain their lost glory through technology upgradation. These parks will provide ample opportunity of technology exchange between the producer as well as a well-defined Marketing facility under state patronage.
  All these parks will come up as a joint venture between private firms, jute manufacturers and state government. Gautama also informed that the detailed project report in respect of the proposed jute park at Rajnagar was ready. The detailed project reports of the other two proposed parks would be prepared soon. There –after, all the three would be sent to the centre. 
  Gautama said that the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on labour, employment and textiles also favoured formation of a National Jute Board (NJB), which would look after the benefits and wage discrepancies in this industry. Gautama pointed out that wage structure in the jute industry was not uniform and there are also complaints of scarcity of quality seeds. The NJB will ensure better quality seed procurement and take action against hoarding.
  “It is found that the quality of jute available in Bangladesh is better than West Bengal. The NJB will help develop the quality of jute seeds as well as constant technological upgradation through use of international know-how. Central subsidies will also be given in importing foreign technology and machinery,” Gautama said. The government wants export-oriented jute in the state. 
Source: The Hindustan times, Kolkata, 03.09.2007
                                                                                                                          
Advisory board sets crop estimate at 9.5 million bales
  Kolkata, August 28, 2007: The Jute Advisory Board (JAB) has consulted the directorate, industry, Jute Balers’ Association (JBA) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI), among others, for a crop estimate. At Friday’s meeting, it set this at 9.5 million bales combined jute and Mesta for 2007-08. There are new Jab members for the first time from non-growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh; the last being known for producing a jute-like but harder fibre, named ‘bimli,’ later than jute New jute commissioner Benod Kisbota presided over the meeting and Union joint secretary (jute) Sudipta Roy was also present. This being preliminary estimate, JAB will hold another meeting to arrive at a final figure within the next three months or when the new crop’s market arrival reached a peak. This is because normal crop arrival from early-sown areas of North Bengal and lower Assam and later-sown areas of Bihar, Orissa, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and Arambag is interrupted by heavy rains and the Following floods, besides unfavourable weather.
  JAB member organisations have diverse opinions on the crop size as bias is unavoidable. The jute directorate, under the agriculture ministry, estimated the crop size at 11.2 million bales while the Indian Jute Mills Association, on behalf of the industry, pegged the figure at 10 million bales. JCI felt the crop would not be larger than 9 million bales. JBA’s estimate was 8.9 million bales. JBA secretary Phani Banerjee told Mr Roy that according to the association’s latest survey, heavy rains/ floods in producing states have damaged the standing crop. This has led to an early harvest and low yield.
  In a move to clear godowns, JCI has entered into a contract for selling nearly 1 lakh bales with a private group in the city at Rs 1,650 basis TD-5 and lower grade jute at a discount. Reports have it that some more mills have asked JCI about the price at which it is ready to sell. 
Source: The economic Times 
Futures trading in jute
  Kolkata, August 28, 2007:  Early this month, MCX started jute contracts and instead of polling jute prices only on the basis of spot prices in Kolkata where mill owners dictate prices, MCX factored in prices from production centers where prices were higher including the districts of Murshidabad, Nadia and 24 Parganas. Soon, the buyers market turned into a sellers market fetching the farmers much higher prices for their raw jute. But mill owners who had earlier managed to get the raw jute at low rates started crying foul and are now lobbying the state government and the Centre to ban the futures contracts. 
  There are some 100 odd jute mills in and around Kolkata but only a handful of mill owners control prices. MCX sources say they are asking for a ban because they are not being able to dictate the market now.   Last year, West Bengal produced nearly 110 lakh bales of jute, around 85 per cent of the country's jute production. But analysts say that this year heavy rain may also lead to lower production and higher prices. 
It may come as a surprise that the CPM, which had virtually forced the government to ban future trading in agi-commodities, unofficially says that jute contracts are actually helping the farmers. 
 Source - Sourav Sanyal
 Jute packaging order may be phased out
  New Delhi August 26, 2007 : The textile ministry is considering a recommendation of the Working Group on Chemicals and Petro-chemicals to phase out the Jute Packaging Materials Act (JPMA), 1987, and promote use of plastic bags for packing foodgrain and sugar. The move, it goes through, will mean the end of the compulsory packing of food grain and sugar in jute bags. The standing advisory committee on jute, headed by Textile Secretary AK Singh, is considering the recommendations. Ministry sources said once the committee finalised its views, the matter would be sent to the Union Cabinet. 
  The Act was introduced in 1987 as a temporary measure to help the jute industry against the synthetic sack industry. The Act made it mandatory to pack bulk commodities like food grain, sugar, cement and  fertilizers in jute sacks. It was to be phased out by 1994 but continues despite repeated demands from both  the synthetic sack industry and the user sectors. Earlier this month, the Cabinet approved compulsory  packing for all food grain and sugar in jute bags for 2007-08 (July-June). Consumer packs of 25 kg and below 
and exports were, however, exempted. 
  Even though fertilizers and cement have been taken out of the Act’s ambit, the law still applies to food grain and sugar and is strangulating demand for synthetic sacks, besides denying the producers the choice of cheaper and better packs, sources say. Even studies on suitability of plastic woven sacks (PWS) for edible commodities like food grain and sugar by leading institutions like Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Central Food Technological Research Institute and National Sugar Institute have established the superiority of PWS over jute bags. The studies  recommended the use of PWS for long-term storage of edible commodities like food grain and sugar. 
 Source: Business Standard
  Support price for jute to protect the jute farmers
  New Delhi, August 23, 2007: A senior CPI member Prabodh Panda demanded support price for jute to protect the jute farmers of West Bengal during the Zero Hour in the Lower House.. He said the jute farmers, numbering nearly six million, have been in trouble due to crash in the prices.
  JCI’s jute purchase move draws flak
KOLKATA:  Following the launch of jute Futures trading at Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), the industry is witnessing a strange phenomenon of Jute Corporation of India (JCI) procuring the crop from farmers at a much higher price. This move by the JCI has invited the flak of jute industry players. JCI is now discreetly procuring the crop at prices over Rs 50-Rs 100 per quintal above the market rates. 
 The industry has asked the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) to stop the practice immediately. The industry says the practice will encourage ‘fatka’ and ‘dabba’ trade. JCI is already languishing with huge unsold raw jute stocks of around 4.5 lakh quintals accumulated since 2006-07. The industry has urged the ministry to probe into the matter. 
 JCI officials, however, said, JCI was created in the early 70s to help farmers. The recent procurement process might be discreet and internal, but the JCI is precisely doing its job. An industry representative said JCI’s operations aren’t transparent and would help manipulators. The technique adopted by JCI to discreetly instruct its direct purchase centres (DPCs) to procure the crop at prices higher than the market rates might have been prompted by the recent movement at the MCX over Futures trading where there has already been an artificial hike in prices of jute. This, the industry feels, would result in creating a volatile market 
as it prevailed in 2005-06. 
 The price of Tossa Desi ( TD)-5, the most sought-after variety of the crop, is currently ruling at JBA rates of Rs 1,730 /quintal at the Kolkata landed prices, Rs 1,780/quintal for TD-4 grades and Rs 1,680/quintal for the TD-6 specie. JCI in the north and south Bengal markets are flatly purchasing the crop at prices which are Rs 50-Rs 100/quintal higher than the going rates. The current minimum support price ( MSP) for the crop fixed by the government is around Rs 1,050 per quintal for the TD-5 grades and a subsequent Rs 50/quintal higher for the TD-4 and lower for the TD-6 grades. JCI has also been accused of selling its commercially purchased northern and semi-northern raw jute ‘covertly’ to selected mill managements without going in for an open declaration, as is the practice. The matter is currently being probed into by the MoT. 
 Source: Commodity Online                                                                                    
Bangladesh Workers Want Ban On Raw Jute Exports 
  August 19, 2007  Workers in Bangladesh have asked the government to totally ban raw jute exports to India and Pakistan saying the two importers have gained commercial advantage. Four trade union leaders Saturday demanded the ban in a joint statement, saying Bangladesh should export only valued added jute items, providing 15,000 to 20,000 more jobs.
 'Raw jute export has been causing harms to national industry for long. Some 25,000 workers have already lost their jobs and remaining jobs in the jute industry are also threatened,' said the statement. The statement was jointly issued by President Bangladesh Sramik Karmachari Federation Humayun Kabir and General Secretary Siddiqul Islam and President Narayanganj Jute Sramik Samity Khorshed Alam and General Secretary Abdus Salam. They pointed out that by importing raw jute from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan made high value added products, New Age newspaper said Sunday. Bangladesh also exports raw jute to some other countries including China.
 Source: News Post India
Sugar industry resents order on jute
 New Delhi August 13, 2007:  As if falling sugar prices and high sugarcane rates were not enough, the sugar industry will pay close to Rs 1,000 crore to the jute industry over the next one year, thanks to the government’s decision earlier this month to make it mandatory for the industry to package its  produce in jute bags. In its meeting on August 2, the Union Cabinet had approved compulsory packing for all food grain and sugar in jute bags for the year 2007-08 (July-June). However,  small consumer packs of 25 kg and below, and export packing have been exempted from compulsory packaging. 
  The sugar industry is learnt to have spent about Rs 936 crore in the October-July (2006-07) period to purchase jute bags for packing 26 million tonnes out of the 28 million tonnes sugar produced. Another 2 million tonnes went to exports and branded sugar. In the next production season, which is slated to start in October, the demand for these jute bags is expected to be still higher as a bumper crop is ready for harvest in the sugarcane fields of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the main centres of sugar production in the country. 
 The sugar industry has for long subsidised the country’s jute producers in this way, while sectors like cement and fertilisers have been able to get rid of the mandatory jute packing order. Last year, a parliamentary standing committee had recommended doing away with the mandatory jute bag usage for food grain and sugar. However, the recommendation was not accepted. The decision comes at a time when the sugar industry is going through its worst-ever crisis with a 45 per cent year-on-year increase in production and a 30 per cent drop in prices. All Uttar Pradesh-based sugar mills reported huge losses for the April-June quarter. Packing one quintal sugar in a 100 kg jute bag costs around Rs 36, whereas if we pack the same quantity in two plastic bags of 50 kg, it would cost only Rs 21,” said Sanjay Tapriya, director (finance), Simbhaoli Sugars.
 Source: Business Standard
Jute industry seeks Govt. help against MCX over trading plans
 KOLKATA, AUGUST 6, 2007: The jute industry is worried over the report that Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) , Mumbai is again going to start futures trading in raw jute in a big way during 2007-08 jute session. The jute industry has therefore urged the Union ministry of textile to intervene and take up the matter with the department of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.
  This is required for alerting the Forward Market Commission (FMC) about the damaging impact of wild speculation on raw jute prices and consequently on prices of jute goods.  Speculation activities may finally lead to higher packaging cost for FCI and other agencies which procure and pack commodities in jute bags and distribute through through PDS. Relatively, futures trading in commodities is controlled by FMC.
 Source: ET
Live jute futures trade on MCX
  KOLKATA, July 30, 2007: Raw jute tradig will go live on the MCX platform from July 31. With this, it will be the second West Bengal -based commodity to go live on the exchange after potato.  With the new session beginning in August-September, the MCX jute futures contract is expected to help the industry to lock in a raw jute price for hedging. 
  Hedging is like an insurance product, because once a commodity is sold on an exchange platform, its price get locked. As a result,  volatility in the market dos not affect a buyer or a seller.
 With close to 75 mills in the eastern region, the Rs. 3,000 crore jute industry is looking for another opportunity to trade in forward, said Arindam Saha, regional head of MCX (east and north east).
No takers yet for JTM subsidy in jute industry
  KOLKATA, July 27, 2007: There is no taker in the domestic jute industry for Rs.75 -Lakh per jute mill offer with 20% subsidy for modrenising the mill , under Jute Technology Mission (JTM), announced recently by the Union government. The subsidy amount works out to be Rs.15 lakh only, which is according to industry source, grossly unattractive for any prospective investor in jute sector.
  This is because a new jute  yarn/twine unit, modrenisation of existing yarn/twine unit and diversifying - each require an investment of at least Rs. 10 crore or so, if not more, where  subsidy  comes to Rs. 2 crore or so, a reasonable amount to lure a new or existing promoter in jute. There are some points which are yet to be cleared. The industry has suggested to the JMDC, to put some other restrictions in subsidy scheme.
  Source: ET
Jute meet on tripartite wages deal makes no progress.
   KOLKATA, July 26, 2007: There was no progress in the last review meeting on implementation of exiting industry-wise tripartite wage agreement in West Bengal jute mills. The state labour minister Mrinal Kanti Banerjee convened the meeting. Representative of both industry and trade unions (TUs) took part in the discussions. At the end of the meeting, the minister told the TU leaders to send their consolidated views to his department instead of making meeting. At this, TU sources pointed out that they have already sent such consolidated views to him.
 Source: ET 
 Govt frames norms for old gunny bags in packing
 KOLKATA, July 23, 2007:  The union government has framed a policy for packing paddy and coarse grains procured by state governments and state agencies including FCI in used gunny bags with some
specification.
  Such specifications of once used gunny bags included: gunnies should be free from any mildew/fungus. Cuts, holes or tears and sunfading so that grain would not be come out of the bags and columns of bags should be intact. The weight of 50-kg jute bags should not be less than 500 gm.
  As for paddy, procurement may be in new or used gunny bags in 50-50 ration and the officers of the respective state agencies will responsible to check the quality of the gunny bags being used. The concerned state government will decide the disposal of used bags for procured paddy. 
 Source: The Economic Times
Jute mills to get Rs.75-lakh sop each for modernization
  KOLKATA, July 17, 2007:  The Union government has approved the amount of subsidy required for modernising jute plants and machinery at Rs. 75 lakh per mill in March this year as envisaged in the recently launched Jute Technology Mission (JTM).
  The issue was referred to a committee of JTM in April for examination in order to get a clear picture. It may be mentioned that the authorities had proposed the JTM scheme for achievement the objective of modernisation of the indigenous jute industry more than seven years ago. 
   The subsidy amount proposed per mill is grossly inadequate, according to industry sources. Even the official nodal agency, Jute Manufacturers Development Council (JMDC), for implementation of JTM's proposals proposed a revised scheme and the project committee recommended rising the upper cap of incentive to at least Rs. 2 crore per claimant per year instead of Rs 75 lakh.  The JMDC also informed that the scheme was notified and circulated to all the stakeholders in early March but without any response. 
   Directed by the empowered committee, the office of the Jute commissioner asses modernisation investment which reveled that a composite mill of 80 tonne capacity per day would require not less than Rs.30-35 crore and considering the subsidy, the subsidy element works out to Rs.6-8 crore per mill. So the scheme should be amended according before it takes off. 
Source: The Economic Times, Kolkata
Indian firms to set up Jute mills in Kumasi
  ACCRA, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007: To reduce Ghana's dependency on foreign players for jute sacks, two Indian companies have agreed to set up jute mill factories in Kumasi city here by September, an official said.
"Two Indian companies have expressed their interest to our officials during a recent visit to India, where they 
were taken through the processing and procedures for producing the jute sacks," said Isaac Osei, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board. He said this would enable Cocobod to reduce substantially the import of jute sacks for bagging cocoa for exports. 
The two companies were named as Al-Chandani and Gandhi Jute Limited. Their proposals would be assessed by the month-end. Currently the country imports jute sacks for the cocoa industry. "Research has shown that areas such as Ashanti Mampong, Techiman and Nkoranza in the middle zone of the country were fertile for growing jute in large quantities," hen said.
 Source: The Economic Times
Agriculture, industry complementary to each other: Pranab
 Kolkata, July 1, 2007:  Echoing Bengal government's stand on industrialisation, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said agriculture and industry are both integral part of the development and complementary to each other. Speaking at a function to mark the 125h birth anniversary of former West Bengal chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Mr Mukherjee said industry would flourish on the foundation of agriculture.
 Supporting the Left Front's industrial policy, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, ''These two are not opposed to each other.'' Recalling that contribution of Dr Roy in connection with industrialisation of the state, Mr Mukherjee said, ''Dr Roy had encouraged the cultivation of raw jute and it developed into a full- fledged industry. It was his foresight that industry can flourish on foundation of agriculture. West Bengal is the leading producer of raw jute in the country.'' 
Seventh Meeting of the PSCB of the IJSG  on 6-7 August 2007 in Kolkata.
 The Seventh Meeting of the Private Sector Consultative Board (PSCB) of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) will be held at the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA), Royal Exchange, 6 Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata, India at 10:30 am on 6-7 August 2007. The meeting is open to all Associate Members of IJSG. It is expected to discuss important issues to make suitable recommendations to the Council of IJSG, these are: country paper, cooperation with buyers’/ consumers’ organisations, strategy for promotion of marketing of technical textiles including geo-textiles, improvement of processing machinery and overall strategy for the jute sector. 
 The IJSG Secretariat would appreciate receiving by Letter or Fax or E-mail the names, Official Titles and Addresses of the representatives designated to attend the meeting latest by 29 July 2007. For further information mail us at: info@jute.org. (Source- International Jute Study Group, Dhaka)
Central Excise relief for jute twine, yarn and ropes
 Kolkata, June 23, 2007: The centre has exempted jute twine, jute yarn (single or multi-folded or cable) and ropes measuring over 20,000 decitex from central excise tax. The 8% tax was imposed by the notification on March1, 2006 and was valid till December 2006.
 The levy was removed, effective from January, after authorities became aware of the ill impact on the jute twine and yarn producing units in the small and medium-scale sector and strongly urged that cordage, cables and ropes might be classified as before as separate tariff items under the broad head 5607.
  Welcoming the excise duty exemption, industry sources said this was necessary to help the jute industry and to promote production and sale of such items in the domestic market. It may be mentioned that the jute yarn and twine units which are mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh numbering over 30 or so were almost pushed out from the market by heavy inflow of unauthorized imports of these items from Nepalese jute mills selling twine at Rs. 20,000 per tonne compared to Rs.22, 000 per tonne quoted by the Indian jute twine producers.
  Indian producers were at a loss how their counterparts in Nepal were being able to sell at such an incredibly low price. They, therefore, felt that it was a fit case of imposing anti-dumping duty. Representatives of Indian jute twine producers point out that under the trade treaty between Nepal and India, imports are being allowed subject to quantitative restrictions but it was not being done and most of Nepalese jute items are entering through illegal routes.
 There is another good news for the jute mills after the state government agreed to review the maximum demand charges in the energy bill of the mills drawing power from State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd for the jute strike period from January to March.
 The state power minister, who is also the Labour minister, advised two industry representatives to ask jute mill owners to present their maximum demand charges in the energy bills during the strike period. The  minister has agreed to consider their case if based on authentic documents.
Source: The Economic Times
 Jute sector opposes EPCG import norms
 Bhubaneshwar, June 12, 2007: The jute industry has petitioned the Centre over import of machinery under the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme, alleging double benefits are being given. According to the complain, most of the machineries imported under EPCG Scheme are of Chinese made and is being done violating the existing Acquisition of Machinery and Plants (Capital Subsidy) Scheme, which provides immunity to the industry by providing Capital Subsidy to jute mills identified under the Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). The Centre has been requested to arrange for the provisions kept under the existing Acquisition Scheme of the JMDC. 
Source: Business Standard, Kolkata 
MCX to unveil jute futures
 KOLKATA, JUNE 12, 2007:  Futures trading in raw jute is expected to gain a momentum, with Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) deciding to launch the trading in that counter.  An MCX official said after receiving request from a section of traders to create opportunity in raw jute futures trading on the MCX platform, the exchange has conducted a study on the physical market of raw jute. 
 The study points out that with an annual production of 80-90 lakh bales of raw jute in the country, there is a 
good possibility of volume turnover in the futures market, which may hover around Rs 500 crore in the 
initial phase of the trading. One bale is equivalent to 180 kg. Sources indicated that in all probability, the futures contract at the MCX on-line platform may be opened on TD-4 variety, ex-Bengal. The contracts will have physical delivery options as required by the Forward Contract (Regulation) Act. 
 Source: TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bengal left out of jute bodies 
Kolkata, June 10: The Union textile ministry has given Bengal the cold shoulder while setting up two major policy-making bodies on jute. The state is the largest producer of the fibre and is also the main production hub for jute products. It contributes nearly 70 per cent of the 10 million bales of raw jute produced annually. 
However, hardly anyone from the state was included in the Jute Advisory Board (JAB) and Jute Manufacturers Development Council (JMDC) formed by the Union ministry for the next two years. 
 JAB is the top advisory body to forecast the production of raw jute and Mesta. JMDC looks after the internal and external market promotion of traditional and diversified jute products. The council also executes the external market assistance scheme for exporters. There is no representation from the Bengal agriculture department in the JAB. A jute grower's representative, however, will be nominated later.  Assam, the second largest producer of the fibre, was also ignored. On the other hand, Meghalaya, which produces an insignificant quantity of jute, will be represented in the JAB by its agriculture secretary. 
 Sacking prices stay put, hessian eases further 
  Kolkata: June 10, 2007:  Narrow fluctuations marked trading in the Kolkata gunny market this past week with prices of sacking remaining unchanged while hessian constructions eased further on sustained short selling and absence of fresh demand.
 Though intermittent buying by the government on departmental account provided a breathing time for the manufacturing jute mills. But Departmental buying of jute bags was just 30% or so of industry’s sacking production capacity thus providing only partial support.
  Prices of standard B.Twill-2lb remained around their previous weekend levels but that of Hessian slipped by Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,7500 per tonne on short selling. Activity was restricted and undertone at close hesitant. The union government did not buy and jute bags on departmental account during the week under report. So far, authorities had bought a total quantity of 1.54-lakh quintal in two instalments for May delivery to meet Rabi Foodgrain packaging requirements of Punjab, FCI and Andhra Pradesh.  Domestic sugar mills almost discontinued their purchases of A.Twill jute bags, partly due to end of crushing season and partly because of availability of cheaper poly packs. 
 Packing of food grains in jute bags urged by All Pakistan Jute Mills Association.
  ISLAMABAD:  June 08, 2007 : All Pakistan Jute Mills Association (APJMA) has urged the government to promulgate a mandatory packaging ordinance on the lines of India and Bangladesh where wheat, sugar, rice and food grains are packed in jute sacks under a mandatory packaging order. 
  In an a letter addressed to the Federal Minister for Textiles, Mushatq Cheema, Chairman APJMA, Humayaun Mazhar, has argued that this will not only generate more employment, go a long way is stemming the environmental damage, stop contamination being caused by usage of synthetics as a packaging medium but also go a long way in earning the country much needed Green Credits. 
  Giving suggestions for the National Textile Policy, the Association said that jute industry was a labour intensive industry and any change in the minimum wages must be linked with productivity. 
India Jute to change hands
  Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2007: India Jute is changing hands. Kajaria owned Murlidhar Ratanlal Exports and owner of Hastings and Lagan Jute planning to take over India Jute from Arun Bajoria. The deal is in the final stages and likely to be made public shortly.
This will be third time that India Jute is changing hands. The owner of Hastings, Sanjay Kajaria, refused to comment, pointing out “nothing could be disclosed at the moment”. This is the first takeover of a jute mill, considered a sunset industry, in the last one-and-a-half decades. The move is significant as it comes at a time when jute mill owners are planning to leave the ailing industry. 
Source: Business Standard, Kolkata
Birla Corporation  to pay 35 pc dividend 
  Kolkata, May 30, 2007: Birla Corporation Ltd, the MP Birla flagship, has reported a profit after tax of Rs 326 crore on a turnover of around Rs 1,795 crore for the year to March 31, 2007, against a net profit of Rs 126 crore on a turnover of Rs 1433 crore for the 2005-06. The latest year’s turnover is a record for the company. 
The company, which is into cement and jute, attributed the 25 per cent rise in turnover and 159 per cent increase in net profit to increased share of blended cement in overall cement sales, better realization, higher volumes and operational efficiencies. The jute division is incurring losses. 
Farmers shun plastic bags, jute sees hope
  Kolkata, May 21,2007:  Here’s is a good news for the jute industry. The farmers of Punjab, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh have refused to use plastic bags to pack food grain. An indefinite strike in Bengal’s jute mills in the peak procurement season had forced the Union government to move away from the compulsory jute packaging act and look for an alternative material. The government placed an emergency purchase order of 25,000 bales of plastic bags (500 bags make a bale). However, farmers in most states refused to take delivery of the synthetic bags. The government had to ultimately cancel the orders.
  This was revealed by Siraj Hussain, joint secretary of the Union food ministry, in a presentation to the standing advisory committee on the Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987. The meeting, chaired by Union textile secretary A.K. Singh, was held in New Delhi today. It was attended by representatives from the plastic and petrochemical industries who demanded the phasing out of the jute packaging act.
  Bhaskar Khulbe, the representative of the Bengal government, submitted a letter from chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to Union textile minister Shankersinh Vaghela, seeking the continuation of mandatory packaging in jute sacks for the survival of the industry. Bhattacharjee said, “ Any dilution of the prevailing 100 per cent reservation norms in favour of jute bags for foodgrain and sugar will spell doom for four million jute growers and 2.5 million industrial workers.’’
  Representative of the Indian Jute Mills Association said the standing advisory committee should look after the interests of the jute sector. The industry, on its part, has assured that there would be enough fibre in the coming years for the kharif and rabi seasons.
  Source:  The Telegraph, Kolkata
Order for supply of jute bags soon
  Kolkata, May 10, 2007: The first order for supply of B Twill bags for the ensuing kharif season is expected to be issued soon by the Office of the Jute Commissioner. A production Control Order (PCO) for supply of around 1.32 lakh bales of B Twill bags is expected to be issued to the jute industry for delivery during the current month.
  According to informed sources, for the ensuing kharif crop, the Punjab Government has intended for five lakh bales of B Twill bags with the Directorate-General of supplies & Disposal (DGS&D). In the first instalment, the DGS&D has issued a “project” to the Jute Commissioner for supply of 1.25 lakh bales. A PCO for this indent, along with perhaps others, is likely to be issued by the Jute Commissioner’s office any day now. According to norms, the Jute Commissioner’s office issues orders to the mills based on the latter’s spindles capacity.
The sources said another order for supply of 40,000 bales of B. twill bags to Food Corporation of India was expected soon. This would be followed by indents for purchases by Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. In total, Government procurement of B. Twill jute bags for packaging of foodgrains for both the rabi and kharif seasons has been pegged at around 15 lakh bales, which translates to around 5-5.5 lakh tonnes.
  With the jute industry’s production pegged at 16 lakh tonnes and the sugar industry and others accounting for another two lakh tonnes of jute goods, procurement by the Government and the agro sector alone accounts for more than 50 per cent of the jute industry’s total production, the sources said. It was in this context that the Jute mandatory Packaging Order 1987 was of crucial importance to the jute industry, they added.  
  Source: Business Line
Anakaputhur association urges  for `Jute Weavers Village' project
 Chennai, May 08, 2007. Ms. Joshi,  a former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, visited the house of C.Sekar, president, Anakaputhur Jute Weavers Association, where saris from natural fibres were woven. Mr. Sekar told her that Anakaputhur was once a thriving handloom centre. "The attention of the State and Central Governments should extend beyond handloom centers such as Kancheepuram and Erode," he said.
  Members of the Anakaputhur Jute Weavers Association said the proposal for a `Jute Weavers Village' recommended by the Union Ministry of Textiles was pending with the State Government and appealed to Ms. Joshi to take steps to expedite the proposal.
Jute crop may be lower this year
  Kolkata, May 6, 2007:   The yield of the crop for the jute year July 2007-June 2008 is expected to be lower this year but, on account of an estimated carry forward stock of 27-28 lakh bales, the industry is not expected to face any shortage of its raw material. According to sources in the Jute Balers’ Association, the ensuing jute year (July-June) will begin with a carry forward stock of around 27-28 lakh bales, including raw jute lying in mills’ godowns, with Jute Corporation of India (JCI) and up country markets. This will ensure that, despite lower crop volumes that are expected in the 2007-08 jute year as indicated by lesser offtake of seeds by farmers, mills’ requirements would be met in the forthcoming jute year.
  Generally the raw jute consumption by the mill sector during a normal working year stands at about eight lakh bales per month or 96 lakh bales for the whole  year. If the consumption of six lakh bales by the cottage industries sector and armed forces is added then, the total raw jute consumption for the 12- month period July-June comes to 102 lakh bales, on an average.
  In Assam and north Bengal, sowing is almost over even as it continuous in Semi-northern and South Bengal and Bihar.  The Union government has declared the minimum support price (MSP) at Rs 1,055 per quintal for TD5 Grade jute ex-Assam. This is higher by Rs 55 from the MSP levels declared last year.
Sanjay Kajaria steps in as IJMA chairman
Kolkata: April 30, 2007.     Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) has found its new leader in Sanjay Kajaria, for 2007-08, who gained good experience in jute trade and kept a close watch on developments in the indigenous jute sector. Asked about the immediate challenges facing the sector, Mr Kajaria said the proposed dilution of jute reservation norms by 25-75% for food grain and by 30-70% for sugar as ordered by the Gujarat High Court in September last year is still hanging on the indigenous jute industry.
 According to new IJMA chief, his task would be to convince the Union government and the concerned ministry about the urgency and importance of this legislative protection for agro-based jute involving interests of millions of jute growers and mill workers besides the jute sector as whole.
 He is to justify his case with the bureaucracy and the powerful standing jute advisory committee (SAC) comprising secretaries and officials dealing with jute and consuming departments who are in favour of dilution.
He admitted that it is not an easy task particularly when this the first time the dilution threat is on two essential commodities like food grain and sugar. He also knew that SAC is harping it for a long time and has already recommended the dilution of jute norms more than once.
Source: The Economic Times
Bangladesh shuts down four jute mills
 Dhaka, April 23, 2007
  More than 100 people were injured in clashes in southern Bangladesh triggered by the closure of four state-run jute mills affecting thousands of workers, police said yesterday. The lay-offs at the loss-making jute mills in the Khulna industrial district were announced on Friday triggering the violence which continued until Saturday, a police officer said. The workers, joined by college students, threw stones at police trying to restore order in Khulna, 300 kilometres southwest from the capital Dhaka.
  The four mills employed 22,000 workers and had incurred a combined business loss of 450m taka ($6.52m). Jute is one of Bangladesh’s main exports, fetching around $500m annually. The losses were mainly due to lack of adequate power supply to the mills.
  Source : Agencies
Workers clash after Ganges Jute Mill announces closure
  Kolkata, April 19, 2007
  A clash broke out between workers affiliated to United Trade Union Centre (Lenin Sarani), the labour wing of
Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), and members of CITU after Ganges Jute Mill at Bhadreswar was temporarily closed down today. The closure, which has rendered more than 8,000 workers jobless, comes just over a month after Hind Motors was shut down at Uttarpara. The Ganges Jute Mill had reopened just a few days ago on April 4.
  Source: Express News Service
Centre raises raw jute MSP by Rs. 55 per quintal
  NEW DELHI, April 12, 2007. 
  The government on April 12, decided to raise the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute by Rs. 55 per quintal to Rs.1,055 per quintal for 2007-2008 to protect the interest of growers. The dearance was given by Cabinet Commitee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on the recommendation of the Commission on Agriculture Cost and Prices (CACP), information and broadcasting minister PR Das Munshi told reporters after the morning. 
  "The MSP of TD-5 grade of jute ex-Assam for 2007 -08 has been fixed at Rs. 1055 per quintal for 2007-08." he said, adding the enhancement of MSP will protect the interest of jute growers through assured remunerative price. 
Jute Industries get good results in non-woven agro textile
  Kolkata: April 9, 2007.   The Indian jute industry, with the help of the Union ministry of textiles is understandably getting encouraging results in its attempts to develop and promote value added non-woven agrotextile, which could reduce the industry’s craving for traditional packaging materials like sacking and hessian. If produced in a commercial scale, it can even achieve current production of sacking and rub out the label of jute as a packaging industry. In fact, the industry and jute research organisations like Ijira have been trying to develop a number of diversified products during last four decades to reduce their dependency on traditional packaging materials like sacking and hessian but could not achieve much success. Admittedly, the industry has been able to develop DJPs like jute yarns; hydrocarbon-free jute bags, shopping bags and very recently, geotextiles, but no single item could compensate the loss of share in sacking market both domestically and internationally. As the Union government has, in its national Jute policy, 2005, laid special emphasis on developing and producing value added diversified jute products (DJPs) and modernisation of mill machinery, the jute industry has been making sincere efforts to develop and produce such DJPs suitable for composite mills to undertake production at commercial level with support of the ministry of textiles. 
Another potential area in the textile field happens to be non-woven agrotextiles where other non-jute fibres, including plastics have already achieved remarkable progress. For jute also, there is enough scope, according to experts in jute. It is noticed that the jute non-woven products, at present, are made mainly of waste material like felts and produced by an archaic process with obsolete technology. 
Jute commissioner to clamp down on PDS bag supply defaulters
  Kolkata April 3, 2007
 The Union ministry of textile (MoT) has directed the office of the Jute commissioner of Kolkata to take strong steps against those who have defaulted in the supply of B.Twill jute bags to government accounts since the two-months strike ended on March 8.  The bags are essential for packing rabi food grains for the public distribution system. 
  Soon after the strike settlement, procuring agencies in Punjab and Haryana change their decision to purchase HDPE/PP bags on the industry's assurance of timely supply of jute bags. 
 It is understood that there was a backlog of more than on lakh bales for supply to the industry before the strike on January 5. Of this, about half-a-dozen jute mills close to sell their finished goods in the open market when prices ruled much higher than official rates fetching windfall profits, thus failing to meet demand from government agencies.   Soutce: ET
Jute goods exporters brace for hard times
  Kolkata, March 30, 2007
  The ambitious target to increase jute goods exports fivefold may not be achievable due to lack of incentives schemes. The National Jute Policy 2005, aimed to hike jute goods export to Rs. 5,000 crore from current Rs.1,000 crore.
  The only export incentive scheme for local jute goods exporters - the External Market Assistance (EMA) for jute products will expire by the month end.  So there will be no incentives from April 1, 2007. In fact, the Centre had earlier decided discontinue EMA from April this year. Accordingly, it is informed both jute goods exporters and Jute Manufacturers Development Council (JMDC) - the official nodal agency for jute development and promotion. 
   JMDC could implement EMA from its own resources in that case, the government would not accept any liability of excess expenditure on the account.  The situation has naturally left jute mill exporters, merchant shippers and general exporters of jute goods worried, particularly when competition from a heavy subsidized Bangladesh jute industry is getting keener day by day. 
 Source: ET
Government  merges two incentive schemes for Jute  Industries
  Kolkata, March 21, 2007
  The Union government has merged two incentive schemes for modernization of jute industries run by Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC) and National Centre for Jute Diversification (NCJD). The capital subsidy for acquisition of machinery and plant has also been raised from 15 per cent to 20 per cent with effect from March 1, 2007, under the mini-mission -IV of Jute Technology Mission (JTM).
Sikkim jute fair
 GANGTOK, March 9: 2007 
  In a bid to spread awareness of environmental friendly jute products, a six-day jute fair organised by Jute Manufacturers Development Council, Ministry of Textiles commenced today at a hotel in Gangtok. Mr Vishal Chouhan, DC (East) inaugurated the fair.
Mr PK Sahu, chief market promotion officer said that the objective of the fair was to spread awareness about the diversified jute products among the people. “The products can be safely used as an alternative to plastic,” he added. Sikkim has already banned the use of plastic, which was much appreciated by Mr Sahu. “The alternative is jute, which is environmental friendly,” he pointed out. Apart from the usual decorative jute products, Mr Sahu highlighted there were low cost range of jute bags which is lightweight, cost-effective and easy to handle. Mr Sahu also informed that India has an average jute production of 16 lakh metric ton with an export mark of 3 lakh metric ton of jute goods valued at Rs1,200 crore. Set up by ministry of textiles, the council looks after promotional aspects of jute products and various other measures for domestic and export market development.   Source: The Statesman
 The strike in jute mills entering the 60th day
 KOLKATA, March 5, 2007
 Ahead of the upcoming Assembly session,  Congress leader Manash Bhunia said that with the strike in jute mills entering the 60th day, jute production has been hampered severely. This has affected the livelihood of thousands of labourers working in the different jute mills of the state. “For 60 days, there has been no breakthrough despite numerous meetings. The chief minister should have intervened and helped resolve the dispute between the mill owners and the labourers,” Bhunia said.
IJMA sees industry pact crumble if Jute strike continues
KOLKATA, February 23, 2007:  The Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) on Friday said it would give its member mills the freedom to break away from the industry-wide wage settlements unless the central jute mills called off their strike, which entered the 50th day on Friday. The IJMA, representing West Bengal’s organised jute mill industry, said competition from small jute mills paying rock-bottom wages to unorganised labour was already mauling the big mills when their unions decided to go on strike on January 5.
   In a letter to Mrinal Banerjee, labour minister, IJMA said, “To preserve the industry-wide agreement, it is essential that the Union and state government ensure uniformity in wages among all mills and compliance with payment of statutory dues.” The IJMA said it had also explained the position to the so-called central trade unions, but they had refused to appreciate the economic argument. Besides, the central trade unions have not been moved by the fact that the new, small mills are paying their workers a fraction of what the old mills pay, and are functioning without unions. “It may be noted that though the central trade unions claim an all-India character, the mills outside West Bengal have also been kept outside the purview of the strike,” the IJMA said in its letter to the minister.
   “If the rigid stand taken by unions is not reconsidered, the IJMA will have no other option left but to withdraw as a negotiating agent for an industry-wide settlement, leaving its members free to negotiate on an individual basis,” the IJMA said.
Talks to resolve jute strike fail
 Kolkata, Februay 14, 2007:   A meeting in New Delhi among Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, trade union representatives and the Indian Jute Mills Association to end the jute strike failed to produce any result tonight. The meeting, which commenced at 6.30 pm and continued till close to 11 pm, was attended by officials of the labour departments of both the Centre and West Bengal as well as 20 union representatives.
  IJMA representative Sanjay Kajaria told PTI tonight after the meeting that Fernandes had requested the trade unions to lift the strike, which had begun on January 5, 2007, and continue the process of dialogue. The trade unions were adamant on continuing the strike. 
  One of the trade union representatives, Ganesh Sarkar, said that the minister had assured them that he would take appropriate steps against the mill managements for various labour law violations they had pointed out to him. The strike was called to press the 14-point charter of demands. A total of 52 mills and 2.5 lakh workers were affected by the strike.
  Source:      PTI
Workshop on Accelerated and Eco-friendly Retting Technology
 KOLKATA February 07, 2007:  A national workshop on Accelerated and Eco-friendly Retting Technology for Jute and Mesta, organized by National Institute of Research on Jute & Allied Fibre Technology (NIRJAFT) will be held on 9 February 2007 at the ICMARD Auditorium, Kolkata to focus and highlight a farmer friendly technology of fibre extension. The technology had been developed at NIRJAFT and extensive demonstrations at farmers’ fields in different districts of West Bengal had been conducted in association with the Agriculture Department, Government of West Bengal. The workshop is expected to be attended by very senior dignitaries from Central and State Government and NGOs working for upliftment of rural economy.
  For further information mail at : nirjaft@vsnl.net          Source:  IGSG
Dubai Municipality  encouraging the use of eco-friendly jute bags
UAE: January 29, 2007: Dubai Municipality is encouraging the use of eco-friendly jute bags in supermarkets which will be distributed to the malls. They prefers jute bags instead of the plastics. UAE currently consumes about 150,000 tons of plastic in the form of bags and other items annually.
 Jute exhibition in Chandigarh
 Chandigarh: January 17, 2007:   In Chandigarh a jute exhibition was organised  on  natural  golden fibre, up to January  19. The jute exhibition,  which was a collaboration of National Center for Jute Diversification and the Jute Manufactures Development Council, offered a  wide range of creative products that present latest trends and styles. From jute bags, clutches, travel kits, to carpets, fabrics and cushion covers, all are available, here.  Dresses, chic shoes and sandals, hats, decorative items and handicrafts steal the show.
Government postpone the Jute Technology Mission (JTM) launch 
 Kolkata, January 8, 2007:   Government has decided to postpone the Jute Technology Mission (JTM) launch for an indefinite period due to strike by workers of 20 unions of organised jute sector. The Rs458.34 crore JTM was to be executed during the period 2003-2004 to 2008-2009. Jute Technology Mission (JTM) helps  to improve the quality of jute fibre, seeds and up gradation of mills. This delay in the mission would affect the process of modernisation of the jute industry.

Bengai jute mill workers go on indefinite strike
  Kolkata, January 5, 2007
 Jute mill workers belonging to 20 unions in West Bengal went on an  indefinite strike from Friday to press for their demands like clearance of past dues of gratuity, ESI, bonus and dearness allowance. Only New Central Jute Mill, which is run by the workers themselves, remained open.
There are 55 mills employing 2.5 lakh workers in the state. Despite intervention by Labour Minister Mrinal Banerjee, the deadlock between the trade unions and mill managements could not be resolved in a last attempt at a tripartite meeting held on Thursday. Gates of jute mills remained shut with workers raising slogans was the common scene this morning.
"Since morning shift we have started continuous strike as the management declined to accept our minimum demands. The strike is peaceful so far," CITU affiliated Bengal Chatkol Mazdoor Union General Secretary Gobinda Guha said.
Four to five trade unions did not join the strike. The last strike in the jute industry took place in 2004 and continued for nine days. In a landmark agreement later, the unions had agreed to productivity linked wages.
  India is the world's largest producer of raw jute. It alone produces world's 50 per cent of raw jute and 40 per cent of finished jute goods, and provides employment of 40 million farmers and 0.2 million factory workers. 
       Press Trust of India
Centre flayed for not merging jute bodies
  New Delhi , Nov. 25 
The Standing Parliamentary Committee on Labour has criticised the Ministry of Textiles for not advancing any convincing reasons in not merging various organisations engaged in the jute sector in the proposed National Jute Board (NJB) so as to ensure integrated development of the sector. In its report on the National Jute Board Bill, 2006, the Committee headed by Mr S. Sudhakar Reddy, said that currently seven organisations of the Ministry of Textiles and three organisations of the