Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 05:04 AM IST

  Business   In Other News  06 Dec 2019  Soon, govt agencies will procure foodgrains only in jute bags

Soon, govt agencies will procure foodgrains only in jute bags

THE ASIAN AGE. | SANGEETHA G
Published : Dec 6, 2019, 4:26 am IST
Updated : Dec 6, 2019, 4:26 am IST

“The production of jute goods over the last few years by the jute mills has remained consistent,” Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani said.

The government hopes that this measure will increase the production of jute goods in India which has been stagnating for the past three years despite all the incentives had supposedly providing the sector.
 The government hopes that this measure will increase the production of jute goods in India which has been stagnating for the past three years despite all the incentives had supposedly providing the sector.

Chennai: In order to promote jute manufacturing units, government is planning to mandate that 100 per cent packaging of foodgrains procured by state procurement agencies and FCI will be in jute bags.

The government hopes that this measure will increase the production of jute goods in India which has been stagnating for the past three years despite all the incentives had supposedly providing the sector.

In 2016-17, the country had produced 1142,000 metric tonnes of jute goods and this marginally rose to 11,87,000 tonnes in 2017-18, but was down to 11,61,000 tonnes in 2018-19.

“The production of jute goods over the last few years by the jute mills has remained consistent,” Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani said.

According to her, the government has been implementing several measures to modernise the jute mills. This includes, Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plants and Machinery (ISAPM) to facilitate modernization in existing and new jute mills and for up-gradation of technology in existing jute mills. An incentive of 20 per cent of the cost of machinery for jute mill and 30 per cent for Jute Diversified Products (JDP) is being given. MSME units are considered for reimbursement under the scheme, subject to a maximum of Rs. 2.50 crore per unit.

Under this scheme, a subsidy amounting to Rs. 49.71 crore has been disbursed to jute mills and JDP units during the period 2014-15 to 2018-19.

Further, a Scheme for Research and Development for the textile industry including jute with a total outlay of Rs 80.00 crore has been launched in 2015 by the Government for promotion of research & development, technology transfer and dissemination activities in textile sector including jute, she added.

Tags: jute bags