Jute fiber stockpiles in godowns

Srikakulam: Jute fiber lost its demand in the market due to rampant use of plastic for all purposes as a result Jute Corporation of India (JCI) and managements of jute mills are unable to procure it from farmers. In this backdrop farmers are not interested to cultivate jute crop. Previously north coastal AP particularly Srikakulam district was noted for jute crop and the crop was cultivated in 20 mandals in the district.

Now, it is confined to five to six mandals in Ponduru, G Sigadam, Rajam, Rgidi, Santhakaviti and Vangara. Jute can be cultivated in both dry and wet lands based on the water and rain availability. Due to loss of demand for jute fiber even JCI is unable to clear its product for the last four years as it was purchased fiber from farmers in 2015 and since then kept the product in private godowns at Rajam by paying rents which is crossed more than Rs 10 lakh.

Managements of jute mills also did not come forward to purchase the stored fiber from JCI even at offered prices. JCI is maintaining its offices at Rajam, Balijipeta, Bobbili, Parvathipuram, Vizianagaram in both Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. JCI previously sets its purchasing centres at Rajam, Ponduru, Amudalavalasa, Kotabommali and other places but all these centres have not been operating properly for the last several years.

“Previously in our mandal we used to cultivate jute as a main crop after paddy to earn additional income but now the crop almost disappeared in our mandal,” said Ch Lakhunnaidu, a farmer of Ponduru mandal to The Hans India.