Cut down cost of jute production: President Pranab Mukherjee

KOLKATA: Stressing that jute should be the preferred choice in packaging of food grains and sugar, President Pranab Mukherjee today said steps must be taken to cut down its cost of production.

"Jute is compatible with the requirements of a clean environment. It is pertinent that it continues to be the preferred choice as a packaging material for food grains and sugar. However, steps are required to be taken to cut down its cost of production," Mukherjee said at a conference of National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre.

He said for this, improved machinery has to be developed, measures for energy and waste management should be adopted and manufacturing and quality assurance processes have to be upgraded.

"To cope with competition from other packaging materials like lighter synthetic bags, greater diversification is necessary to manufacture jute bags of varied types. For instance, production and promotion of hydrocarbon-free jute bags could cater to a large domestic market, besides meeting its export demand," the President said.