An overview of research and development in jute and allied fibre crops in India

Jute and allied fibre crops play an important role in Indian economy. Raw jute farming alone creates employment of 10 million man days in agricultural sector per annum. Global production of jute and allied fibres is around 3.0 million tonnes, 92.5% of which comes from India and Bangladesh. India is the single largest producer of jute goods, contributes about 60% of the global production, and the present export earning is to the tune of 1200 crores per annum. Over the last five decades, the productivity of jute has doubled from 1.04 t/ha in 1950–51 to 2.12 t/ha in 2009–10, which has been possible due to the introduction of high yielding and premature flowering resistant varieties along with improved production technologies…