The Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) didn't mince words at the 32nd Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting held in New Delhi.
Highlighting a series of critical issues, the IJMA painted a bleak picture of the sector grappling with a sharp decline in demand for jute bags.
The meeting saw the convergence of key stakeholders, including representatives from the sugar and plastic industry bodies, who gathered on Tuesday to address these pressing concerns.
The SAC, which plays a crucial role in advising the Union government on the mandatory use of jute packaging materials and packaging norms for essential commodities such as foodgrains and sugar, was in for a sobering session.
IJMA officials emphasized the urgent need for government support, as underscored by the Jute Commissioner's Office (JCO). With an estimated 40 million farmers and 3.5 lakh jute mill workers dependent on the industry, the stakes couldn't be higher.
However, the meeting was far from a harmonious gathering. Representatives of the sugar industry bodies voiced their dissatisfaction with the pricing and quality of jute bags, pressing the government to set fixed rates for sugar jute bags. "They also noted the reluctance by major buyers like some beverage giants to use jute bags, despite environmental benefits," said industry sources present at the meeting.
Non-compliance with government notifications by the sugar industry further fueled the tension. Meanwhile, the plastic industry representatives pushed for the removal of “discouraging language” about plastic bags in the Jute Packaging Materials Act (JPMA), highlighting their own set of grievances.
"The jute industry is operating at 55 percent capacity, affecting over 50,000 workers. The demand for jute bags is projected to drop to 30 lakh bales for 2024-25," lamented IJMA Deputy Chairman Rishav Kajaria.
He called for immediate government intervention to enforce 100 percent reservation norms in foodgrain and sugar packaging for the upcoming year.
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