Supply shortfall restricts jute industry from meeting pulse packaging need

Deficit is about 0.55 million bales, textile ministry urges use of plastic bags instead

Faced with deficit in supplies, the jute industry is no position to meet the requirement for packaging of pulses under the Government of India's Price Stabilization Fund Scheme.

A representation was made through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) for procurement of pulses under this scheme.

In a letter to the department of consumer affairs, the textiles ministry's jute section explained the position of shortfall faced by the jute industry. Since the industry is saddled with a deficit of 0.55 million bales (one bale is 180 kg) under the mandatory packaging order of the Jute Packaging Materials Act (JPMA), supply of packing