ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres celebrated its 68th foundation Day on Tuesday. On this occasion a “Field Day-cum-Demonstration-cum-Exhibition for showcasing the ICAR-CRIJAF proven technologies to wider group of stakeholders” was organised in the institute campus at Barrackpore. The programme was attended by delegates from Industry, Govt. Institutions (NJB, JCI, IJIRA, Govt. of West Bengal etc.), ICAR Institutes, Regional Stations and Media persons and farmers. The proven technologies were showcased in different exhibition stalls for the knowledge of all the stakeholders and farmers.
Prof. Swapan Kumar Datta, Vice Chancellor of Biswa Bangla University and former Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, New Delhi graced the occasion as the chief guest. A. K. Jolly, Managing Director, Jute Corporation of India, Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore and Dr. D. B. Shakywar, Director, NINFET, Kolkata were the guests of honour. The guests inaugurated the exhibition stalls displaying proven technologies developed by CRIJAF and other ICAR institutes, industries and SHGs.
In his welcome address Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF mentioned about the major achievements, varieties and technologies developed by the institute to resolve the bottlenecks and problems faced by the farmers in the cultivation of jute and allied fibre crops vis a vis enhancing the productivity and profitability through yield and quality improvement and reduction in cost of cultivation. He highlighted the role of these crops beyond fibre yielders as ideal candidate crop for ecosystem service, nutraceuticals and other by products.
Increasing labour cost, scarcity of water during the retting season have made the quality retting a difficult task for the farmers. Dr. Kar told that the quality of jute fibre largely depends on retting methodology. Hence, the institute has developed pond-based in situ retting based self-reliant eco-farming technology mediated through microbial consortium for better fibre quality even if the retting is conducted in stagnant water. This technology ensures better quality fibre, reduced retting duration and enhanced income for jute farmers. This type of model for jute retting is very much climate resilient which ensures not only clean retting process there by reducing pollution but also multiplies the net income of farmers from unit area of jute cultivation.
He further highlighted that JAF-Safe App developed by the institute is becoming much popular among the extension workers, field functionaries and other stakeholder for proper identification of pests and diseases and their timely management. JAF-Kisan App developed during the pandemic time helped in collection of real time information on jute cultivation, various problems faced by the farmers and delivering the solution through filed functionaries. Besides he emphasised the importance and special initiatives of the institute in facilitating formation of jute- based Self Help Groups and Farmers’ Producers Organisation and training on manufacturing of value added jute diversified products that is going to encourage entrepreneurship and ensure higher income of farmers and other stakeholders engaged in jute sector.
Dr. Prateek Satya, Principal Scientist of ICAR-CRIJAF also highlighted overall activities of the institute during past one year. The Foundation Day Awards in different categories were awarded.
More than forty farmers attended the exhibition and farmers-scientist interaction in which the scientists addressed the problems faced by jute farmers. The guests and farmers also visited the museum and research field of the institute to get acquainted about the mandated fibre crops and technologies demonstrated in the field.