The Journey of Raw Jute: From Harvest to Jute Mill

In Bangladesh, jute is the second-most important cash crop after cotton. It’s not because of it’s production or cultivation, but rather because of its various use cases as well. Have you seen all the solid, cool-looking jute bags and comfortable jute carpets you see in stores? The origin lies in a plant known as jute. Jute has been used since ancient times in Bangladesh. It appealed to people living in rural areas because of it’s strength, low cost, longevity, and adaptability. Jute is now present in a wide range of industries, where natural fibers are rapidly becoming better replacements.

Growing Jute

Where is Jute Grown?

Jute is grown mostly in Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, and some parts of China and Thailand. These countries have the perfect weather conditions for growing jute because jute plants need a heavy, rainy climate to grow well.

The Jute Plant and Its Parts

The jute plant is tall and has a woody stem. The long fibers found inside the jute stem are it’s core part. These fibers are later used to make all sorts of jute-based products.

How Jute is Planted and Cared For

Jute seeds are planted in rows during the monsoon season. Plant nurturing is ensured after making sure they get enough water and proper nutrients. A jute plant’s growth is pretty fast, and it can reach up to 10 feet tall within 3–4 months. The optimal temperature is between 24° C and 37° C

Harvesting Jute

When is Jute Ready to be Harvested?

Jute is collected between 120 and 150 days after seeding, when the flowers have fallen off. It takes around 3 days for the leaves to shed. The leaves start to turn yellow, which means the jute fibers are mature and ready to be used. Early harvesting gives quality jute fiber.

How Farmers Harvest Jute

Harvesting jute takes a lot of toll on farmers as it is a heavy-duty task and consumes a lot of time and effort. Farmers chop the jute plants near the ground using sharp sickle blades. After cutting, they bind the plants and let them dry in direct sunlight for 2–3 days.

Retting and Stripping Process:

Retting is the technique of removing fibre from the stems of plants. There are mainly 4 types of retting: mechanical (hammering), chemical, steam retting, and water retting. The oldest method is water retting, which farmers have used for centuries. The retting process depends on the humidity and the cost of the operation. The retting process starts off by harvesting a small stalk and binding it together. After that, they are submerged in water so that it’s easy to extract the fibers from the stem. This process takes around 15 days or more, depending on the jute quality. The manual, labor-intensive process of extracting fiber by hand requires a lot of effort.

Transportion of Jute

How Raw Jute is Transported from Farms to Mills

After the jute stalk is well-retted, the fibers are squeezed until they’re waterless and then dried off in the sun. After that, they are bundled tightly and ready to be transported to jute mills. For transportation, various vehicles are used, like cattle carts, boats, trucks, pickups, etc.

Processing in the Jute Mill

What happens when Jute arrives at the mill?

When the jute fibers arrive at the mill, several steps are taken to turn them into usable products. Workers start off by separating the jute fibers based on their quality.

Steps in Jute Processing

• Sorting and Grading: The workers first filter out the jute fibers and grade them according to their quality.
• Softening: Machines soften the jute fibers to make them workable.
• Carding: The jute fibers are combed to remove impurities and align them in a straight line.
• Spinning: The carded fibers are twisted into fine jute yarn, which makes it a long thread.
• Weaving: The yarn is then converted into jute fabric using large weaving machines, otherwise known as “looms”.
• Finishing: Treatment and finishing are next steps in getting the woven cloth suitable for usage.

Products Made from Jute

A lot of different things are made from jute. Jute bags, rugs, curtains, ropes, and even clothes are all common things that are made from it. Geotextiles, which help keep the dirt from washing away, are also made from jute.

Jute’s Environmental Advantages

Jute products are of great importance because they are solid, strong, durable, flexible, biodegradable, and, overall, eco-friendly. It’s a potential alternative to plastic. It is also renewable, which means that we can continue to grow and use it without facing a shortage.

By substituting jute for synthetic materials such as plastic, we can contribute to pollution reduction and energy preservation. Jute is also good for our planet because it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.

Challenges in the Jute Industry

Transportation Challenge

Transporting the jute fibers to the jute mills without a loss is a challenging task. Rural roads in Bangladesh are prone to flooding and mudslides due to the country’s heavy rainfall. As a result, it is difficult to carry the fibers on bullock carts from farm to mill or even with pickup vans.

Issues Faced by Jute farmers and Mill Workers 

As great as jute is, it does come with a few shortcomings. Bad weather, pests, and diseases are challenges that farmers face on occasion, and they can damage jute crops. Bangladeshi-based jute mills still haven’t answered the call for dealing with issues like low wages and dangerous working conditions. 

Technological Aspects

Technology is helping to address some of these problems. For instance, jute processing is now simpler and quicker thanks to improved machinery, and scientists are working to create more resilient jute kinds.

Future of Jute Jute Industry 

Innovation

Jute has a rich cultural heritage and has been in use for centuries, with a growing demand. The agriculture sector is evolving and always coming up with new innovative ideas.  Scientists are now exploring new uses for jute in eco-friendly packaging and in the automobile sector.

Demand for Jute Products is Rising

Jute product demand is rising as individuals realize the need for environmental protection. This bodes well for the jute sector and its workers.

Conclusion

Moving raw jute from harvest to a jute mill is a fascinating and labor-intensive process. Farmers and mill employees put forth a lot of time and effort to ensure quality jute fiber extraction. Thankfully, modern advancements, machines, and technology are accelerating the process of helping farmers solve unforeseen problems. 

With the contribution of the government and research institutions, it is possible to indirectly help the people who make a livelihood off of jute. And overall, we can all contribute to the environment by buying their products and lending our support to the Bangladeshi  jute industry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How is jute harvested?

Answer: The process of harvesting jute involves cutting the plants low to the ground, allowing them to dry, and then soaking them in water to loosen the fibers.

Q: What products are made from jute?

Answer: Bags, carpets, drapes, ropes, geotextiles, and apparel are just a few of the many uses for jute.

Q: Why is jute eco-friendly?

Answer: As an eco-friendly, renewable, and biodegradable substitute for plastic and other man-made materials, jute is an excellent choice.

Q: What is the process of removing jute from its stock called?

Answer: The process is called Retting. Retting is the process of rotting plant stems in water to remove sticky material and separate fibers.