Kolkata, May 25 (PTI) The Center’s Specialist Committee on Jute (ECJ) will meet in Kolkata to review the status of raw jute and mesta supply on June 3, even the industry struggles with high prices, delays crop arrival, and low availability.
The committee under the Ministry of Textiles will assess the 2024-25 supply-Mang landscape and discuss the approach of the 2025-26 crop of Golden Fiber. Officials of Jute Division, National Jute Board, Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders will attend the meeting.
Although official estimates suggest adequate availability with 73 lakh lump production, imports of 5 lakh lumps and carryover stocks of 23 lakh lumps, tight due to real supply hoardings, the jute mill officials said. Consumption is about 70 to 72 million lumps.
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A delayed monsoon has pushed the sowing back, and the latest arrival cannot come before September. This may lead to supply gaps in July and August. Prices have already increased to Rs 6,800-7,200 per quintal, much higher than the MSP’s Justice. ,
Despite this, the office of the Jute Commissioner (JCO) has failed to activate any buffer release mechanisms or take action against hoarding and speculative stops, Jute Mills complained. Mills, especially in North Bengal, are running only 4 to 5 days a week due to increasing input costs and procurement challenges, Kajaria said. The owner of a mill said that they are struggling to pay wages and fulfill the statutory dues.
The industry is looking for ECJ meeting for immediate steps such as buffer stock release, action against hoardings, and strict MSP enforcement to stabilize the market. PTI BSM RG
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