The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has extended mandatory packaging of 100 percent food grains and 20 percent sugar in diversified jute bags for the Jute Year 2023-24 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024). The decision will benefit 4,00,000 workers employed in jute mills and support the livelihood of around 40 lakh farmer families.
To give an impetus to the diversification of the jute industry. 75 percent of the total production of the jute industry is led by jute sacking bags of which 85 percent is supplied to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state procurement agencies and remaining is exported/sold directly.
Jute being a bio-degradable, renewable and reusable fibre fulfils all sustainability parameters. The average production of jute sacking bags is about 30 lakh bales (nine lakh MT).