Jute cultivation is believed to have started in India as early as 800 B.C. for manufacturing cordage, paper and cloth. It is one of the most important cash crops of eastern India. Jute is called the “brown paper of wholesale trade” since it is used for the package of many commodities such as cotton, wool, rice, wheat, sugar, pulses, fertilizer and cement. Jute is also used for manufacturing carpets, rugs, tarpaulins, upholstery, ropes and strings.

The jute plant: it belongs to the family of Chorchorus. There are two species which are cultivated in India ---- Chorchorus capsularis or white jute and Chorchorus olitorius or toss jute. The height of these species range from 2 to 4 metres. Since Chorchorus capsularis is highly adaptable, it covers nearly 75 % of the cultivated area. Chorchorus olitorius, whicvh cannot withstand floods, is grown only on uplands. Jute is an annual type plant. It appears spear-like with round stems a little thicker than a man’s finger and scarcely has any branches except at the top. The fibre in the inner bark is soft and strong and allows good lengths to be drawn out.

Climate requirements: The jute plant requires high temperature with a minimum of 27 degree centrigrade and an optimum of about 34 degree centigrade during the period of growth. The relative humidity requirement is also high ranging from 80 to 90 percent. Continuous drought is injurious to the growth of the plant. During the growing period, the jute plant needs an evenly distributed rainfall of 170 cm to 200 cm. Plenty of water is required during the growing period as well as later for processing.


Soil requirements: Sandy and clayey loams are perfectly suitable for the growth of this plant. It grows well on the alluvial soil found in the flood plains and deltas of rivers. When the rivers flood annually , the necessary salts percolate into the soil and is a boon for the plant.

Method of cultivation:
Sowing-
The sowing of Chorchorus capsularis starts with the rains in March and April and continues till early June. Seeds are either broadcast or dropped in shallow furrows. In recent years, the cultivators have started practising line sowing with the help of drills.In the early stages, weeding is absolutely necessary. Destroying the weeds between rows with wheel-hoe saves labour and helps to mulch the soil.

Harvesting-
The plant takes four to six months to mature. The appearance of the flower is the sign that the harvesting process needs to begin. Harvesting begins in July and ends in September. The plants are cut close to the ground level or uprooted in case the ground is flooded. A small portion of the crops is left for maturing into seeds.

Processing-
The harvested plants remain in the field for 2 to 3 days for the leaves to shed. Then they are tied into bundles, each with a diametre of about 20 to 25 cm.

Retting-
The bundles are sunk in gently flowing clean and soft water for “retting” for 2 to 3 weeks. Retting is a microbiological process which loosens the outer bark and facilitates removal of the fibre from the stalk. From the tenth day the cultivator starts inspecting a few plants. If the fibre smoothly slips out when pressure is applied with the thumb, retting is considered to be complete. Ten or twelve reeds at a time are beaten with a mallet to loosen the fibre which is then washed in clean water, wrung and spread out in the sun for drying up. The fibre is then sorted into bundles, according to the qiuality and pressed into bales. Plenty of clean water is required for all the processes. Removing the fibre from the plant and preparing it for the jute mills requires large supply of labour.

Yield:
The yield of jute per hectare varies from state to state. The average yield is about 1300 kg per hectare. The yield can be increased by using improved seeds, applying fertilizers, and adopting better plant protection measures.

Areas of production :
West Bengal comes first in the production of raw jute. Contributing to 50% of India’s production. The main jute growing districts are Murshidabad, West Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Nadia, Burdwan, Malda and Midnapore. In Bihar the important jute producing districts are Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa and Darbhanga. In Assam,the cultivation of jute is concentrated along the Brahmaputra and Surma river valleys in the districts of Kamrup, Goalpara, Darrang, Tezpur, Sibsagar and Nowgong. Production of jute also occurs in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Tripura and Meghalaya.

Jute has been termed a versatile fibre because of its numerous uses. Cord and rope, net bags, string, floor cloth, sacking, carpets, tarpaulin, upholstery, ornamented jute fibres are a few to mention. It is the major item of export in West Bengal, sustaining about 40 lakh farmer families by generating cash income.