"India Leads Global Jute Production, Sustaining Millions of Rural Livelihoods"
Bast fibre
plant fibre extracted from the stem or stalk, as opposed to seed or leaf fibres.
Mesta
a bast fibre crop (Hibiscus species) cultivated as a cost-effective alternative to jute in drier regions.
Jute belongs to the family of bast fibres, plant fibres extracted from the stem or stalk of a plant rather than from seeds or leaves. India's two primary bast fibre crops are jute (Corchorus species) and mesta (Hibiscus species). Mesta is cultivated as a cost-effective alternative to jute, particularly in drier agro-climatic zones where jute's high moisture requirements cannot be met. Both are collectively classified as 'raw jute' in trade and industrial statistics because their end uses are comparable. Beyond jute and mesta, other plant-based natural fibres, such as Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia), recognised for its sustainable textile applications, are gaining attention as the world seeks alternatives to petroleum-derived synthetic fibres. This broader category of natural bast and leaf fibres sits at the intersection of agriculture and manufacturing: the crop is a primary-sector product, while jute mills converting raw fibre into sacks, geotextiles, and diversified goods represent secondary-sector manufacturing. Both stages together constitute what economists call the real sector of the economy, as distinct from financial transactions.
Jute's commercial history in India dates to the British colonial period, when the East India Company established mills in Bengal to exploit the fibre's strategic military and packaging applications. The region became the world's dominant centre for jute cultivation and processing. Partition in 1947 created a structural rupture: nearly 80 percent of jute-growing areas passed to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), while most processing mills remained in India. This raw-material shortage prompted the government's 'Grow More Jute' campaign of September 1949, which successfully shifted farmers from paddy to jute cultivation and more than doubled raw jute output within a decade. The Jute Packaging Act, 1987 later mandated the use of jute sacks for packaging essential commodities, providing a guaranteed domestic market and stabilising farmer incomes.
Today, jute cultivation is concentrated in eastern and northeastern India, with West Bengal contributing the largest share, followed by Bihar, Assam, Odisha, and Jharkhand. The crop is sown during March–April and harvested within 100–110 days. It requires hot and humid conditions with rainfall between 700–1,500 mm during the growing season and is predominantly rainfed, grown mainly by small and marginal farmers.
India is the world's largest producer of raw jute and the leading producer of jute goods, accounting for approximately 75 percent of estimated world production of jute goods. As of December 2025, India has 120 composite jute mills, of which 89 are located in West Bengal alone. The industry provides direct employment to approximately 3.70 lakh workers in organised mills and diversified jute units, and sustains the livelihoods of nearly 40 lakh farm families engaged in jute cultivation.
Jute's properties make it genuinely versatile. It is biodegradable, recyclable, strong, breathable, and blends well with both natural and synthetic fibres. It offers thermal and acoustic insulation, high moisture absorption, and low static generation. These functional attributes support applications far beyond traditional sacking: construction materials, agricultural nets, and Jute Geotextile (JGT), a technical textile used in civil engineering, soil erosion control, road pavement construction, and riverbank protection. …
Which of the following has/have occurred in India after its liberalization of economic policies in 1991?
1.Share of agriculture in GDP increased enormously.
2.Share of India's exports in world trade increased.
3.FDI inflows increased.
4.India's foreign exchange reserves increased enormously.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Which of the following activities constitute real sector in the economy?
1.Farmers harvesting their crops
2.Textile mills converting raw cotton into fabrics
3.A commercial bank lending money to a trading company
4.A corporate body issuing Rupee Denominated Bonds overseas
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of
With reference to jute cultivation in India, consider the following statements:
1.West Bengal accounts for the largest share of raw jute cultivation in the country.
2.Jute is sown during March–April and harvested within 100–110 days.
3.Jute cultivation is predominantly irrigated and concentrated in western India.
4.Mesta is a bast fibre crop cultivated as a cost-effective alternative to jute in drier regions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements about the Jute Packaging Act, 1987:
1.It mandates the use of jute sacks for packaging essential commodities.
2.It was enacted primarily to provide a stable domestic market for Indian jute farmers.
3.It prohibits the export of raw jute to protect domestic mill supply.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match the following with respect to India's jute industry:
List I (Feature) — List II (Detail)
A.Total composite jute mills in India — 1. Bihar
B.State with highest number of jute mills — 2. 120
C.Second largest jute-growing state — 3. Jute Geotextile
D.Technical textile derived from jute used in civil engineering — 4. West Bengal
Select the correct match:
Which of the following statements about India's position in global jute production is/are correct?
1.India is the world's largest producer of raw jute.
2.India accounts for approximately 75% of estimated world jute goods production.
3.Bangladesh is the world's largest exporter of jute goods by value.
4.India is fully self-reliant in jute goods, with domestic consumption accounting for about 94% of total production.
With reference to Jute Geotextile (JGT), consider the following statements:
1.JGT is a technical textile made from jute fibre through special treatment and weaving processes.
2.JGT is used in civil engineering applications such as soil erosion control and road pavement construction.
3.JGT is a synthetic material that does not biodegrade in soil.
4.JGT is gaining acceptance due to its environmental compatibility.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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