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Sowing of raw jute in early sowing areas of Assam and West Bengal has been slow and delayed due to poor rainfall.
Sowing of jute usually starts by March-end and continues till May-end.
Sowing requires a hot and humid weather with regular bouts of showers. Jute requires 5-8 cm of rainfall weekly and more during the sowing period, sources said.
However, this year, the State has not received adequate showers till now.
According to Manish Poddar, Chairman of Indian Jute Mills’ Association (IJMA), it is still too early to estimate the quantum of sowing this year. “We need rain, the weather is very hot at present,” he said.
The sowing of the crop in the south Bengal districts of Murshidabad and Nadia, which together account for almost 60 per cent of the country’s total jute production, is yet to commence.
Sowing in these districts usually start in end April or early May, sources said.
FAVOURING FACTORS
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a hike of Rs 100 a quintal in the minimum support price for raw jute this 14 season for the TD-5 grade. This is likely to encourage farmers to go in for a higher sowing of the crop this year, Poddar said.
Prices of certified seeds have also dropped by about 37 per cent to Rs 50 a kg this year. “There was ample stock of seeds from last year. This, coupled with the supply of fresh seeds, has brought down prices,” said a senior industry official.
However, despite these favourable factors, sowing of raw jute could be slightly lower this year. “Farmers are looking to grow other remunerative crops such as corn (in north Bengal) and sesame seeds (in Hooghly district),” the official said.
Area under jute cultivation has remained constant at about 9 lakh hectares over the last few years. Bengal accounts for almost 67 per cent of the total area under cultivation at 6 lakh hectares.
Carryover stock
The carry over stock is likely to be close to 27 lakh bales (of 180 kg) this year. “A number of stockists have been holding on to their stock in anticipation of prices appreciating further if rainfall situation does not improve. This has kept prices stable,” an official said.
Raw jute prices are hovering around Rs 3,200 a quintal this month compared with Rs 2,700 in January this year, an official said.
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