The ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore, is dealing with research and promotion of scientific production technologies of jute and allied fibre crops in the country and now playing leadership role in promoting sustainable jute based eco-farming and eco-friendly conversion of agricultural waste into wealth.
During last fifteen days ICAR-CRIJAF and CRIJAF-KVK, North 24 Pgs, have organised awareness and sensitisation porgramme, quiz and painting competitions to propagate the message of cleanliness and sustainable agriculture among the students, farmers and general public. The emphasis was given for waste recycling, vermicomposting, organic agriculture and by product utilisation with special reference to jute and allied fibre crops. Being a natural fibre institute, ICAR-CRIJAF has taken many initiatives on Swachhata particularly in disseminating the knowledge to make wealth from the waste, which will fulfill the dream of clean environment vis-a-vis higher income for the farmers.
The institute is dedicated to support the government mission on Swachha Bharat and is making all efforts in realising the dream of clean and green India. India, which uses about 14 million tonnes of plastic annually, lacks an organised system for management of plastic waste, leading to widespread littering. Realising the consequences of plastic pollution, which can handicap the sustainable developmental goal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call on minimising the consumption and ban on ‘single use of plastics’ in the country has created nationwide awareness to go for alternate to plastics. We are fortunate that jute of which India is the world’s largest producer is the best alternative to plastics. In coming decades, it is expected that a number of jute mills and mini-jute plants will be seen engaged in a big way in the production of jute and jute blended yarns for manufacturing jute bags. If a biodegradable jute bag is used instead of a regular plastic bag, it can reduce the amount of waste formed significantly. Consumers can be encouraged to always carry a jute bag to put their items in when they go to the market.