Higher MSP fails to encourage Indian farmers to grow more jute & mesta

01 Sep '22

2 min read

Pic: 123rf.com

Higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) has failed to encourage farmers to grow more jute in India. The jute and mesta sowing area remained lower not only compared to the last season but also below the average of the last five years. According to the latest data released by the ministry of agriculture, sowing was completed on 6.94 lakh ha till August 26.

The Central government had increased MSP for TD5, a raw jute variety, by ₹250 to ₹4,750 per quintal for the 2022-23 season. According to the ministry data, jute and mesta sowing area has decreased from 6.95 lakh ha last year to 6.94 lakh ha during the current kharif season. Five-year average sowing area of the crop is 7.09 lakh ha. It shows that farmers have not taken interest to grow more jute.

The ministry report said that the sowing area peaked at 7.29 lakh ha in 2018 from 7.06 lakh ha in 2017. The area was noted at 6.99 lakh ha in 2019, 6.94 lakh ha in 2020, and 6.95 lakh ha in 2021.

State-wise analysis revealed that the jute sowing area declined in Assam, West Bengal and Meghalaya, but the acreage increased in Bihar. The acreage declined to 4.98 lakh ha in the current season from 5 lakh ha of last year in West Bengal, which is the largest producing state in the country. But the area improved in Bihar from 0.96 lakh ha last year to 1.11 lakh ha in the current season.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

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