The jute sector provides direct employment to 3.70 lakh workers in the country and supports the livelihood of around 40 lakh farm families. West Bengal, Bihar and Assam account for almost 99% of India’s total production.
What are the geographical requirements for jute production?
Climate: Hot, tropical conditions with plenty of moisture and heavy rainfall. Standing soft water is necessary for jute production. Temperatures from 20 to 40 °C and relative humidity of 70%–80% are favorable for successful cultivation. Jute requires 5–8 cm (2–3 in) of rainfall weekly, and more during the sowing time.
Soil: River alluvium, especially where annual floods renew the fertility of the soil
Land: Jute is grown under flood conditions. It is often grown as a cash crop in paddy-growing areas
Labour: Labour intensive- grown in densely populated tropical areas.
Distribution of Jute Industry in India:
• Jute industry is highly concentrated in West Bengal which contains about 80 % of the jute milIs in India, the linear jute belt stretches along the Hooghly river.
• In Bihar the industries have flourished at Katihar and Samastipur.
• The industry has also flourished in Uttar Pradesh at Gorakhpur and Kanpur.
• In Madhya Pradesh at Raygarh and in Andhra Pradesh at Chitwalsah and Nellimalli in Vishakhapatnam district.
Why is jute industry concentrated in the West Bengal Basin?
• The Ganga Brahmaputra delta grows about 90% percent of India’s Jute and provides raw material to jute mills here.
• Jute industry continues to be localised in West Bengal along the river HooghIy even though the raw material base has expanded to include Bihar and Assam. The reason is pure industrial inertia.
Following factors facilitated the development of jute industry in West Bengal
• Coal available from Raniganj fields
• Cheap water transportation
• Humid climate is very convenient for spinning and weaving.
• Proximity to Kolkata port
• Abundant cheap labour especially from the states of West Bengal and Bihar.
• Easy flow of capital is available especially from Kolkata.
• Kolkata already enjoys the advantage of an early start as it got impetus already from British time.
