Rejuvenation of jute industry: role and potential of diversified products

Abstract

For more than a century, jute industry occupied a very important position in the national economy of India. However in late 70's a serious jute imbroglio started and large number of ills have closed down or are running at losses, the demand-supply gap, raw jute price fluctuations, synthetic substitutes and reliance on government sheltered demand contributed considerably to the present serious problems facing the jute industry. While the decreasing trend in demand of traditional jute products is inevitable, the emergence of non-traditional diversified jute products offer possibilities, to an extent, for rejuvenation of jute industry. This paper considers the role and potential of diversified products for rejuvenation of jute industry.