Tura, Dec 17: A State Level Workshop on the “Promotion of Jute Cultivation in Meghalaya” was organized on Wednesday at the SMELC hall, Dakopgre in Tura.

The workshop aimed to address the alarming decline in jute farming across the state and provide a roadmap for its revival.

The program was a joint initiative of the Directorate of Agriculture, Meghalaya, in collaboration with the National Jute Board (NJB), the Jute Corporation of India (JCI), and ICAR – Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibre (CRIJAF).

Once a major contributor to the state’s agricultural footprint, jute cultivation has recently seen a downward trend due to traditional farming methods and a lack of modern market infrastructure.

By introducing scientific practices, the state aims to transform jute into a high-value cash crop to revive the agricultural contribution to the state GDP.

The inaugural program was graced by Mary Lisa K Marak, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of West Garo Hills, along with Joint Director of Agriculture (Garo Hills) Tashri M. Momin, District Agriculture Officer Paulette A. Sangma, Ian Borne Saiborne, Joint Director of Agriculture (A&A), Partha Sarathi Rontray, Manager (O&M) of JCI,and Deputy Director (Agronomy) Monica Mawroh.

Ian Borne Saiborne, in his address said that the department is targeting an increase in jute productivity in the state and highlighted plans to introduce mechanized tools and retting tanks to modernize post-harvest processes, alongside new cropping systems like rice-jute and fodder-jute to ensure a year-round economy for farmers.

Adding to this, Partha Sarathi Rontray, provided a historical perspective on the jute industry’s shift post-partition.

He spoke on the importance of the Ministry of Textiles’ interventions and the success of the “I-Care” scheme, which is now being expanded in Meghalaya to provide farmers with certified seeds and technical support.

Following the inaugural ceremony, the workshop transitioned into intensive technical sessions led by experts that focused on the implementation of the “I-Care Scheme” and modern agronomic practices, and discussion on market linkages in making jute a profitable cash crop once again in the Garo Hills.

Representatives from NJB and JCI demonstrated how the transition from traditional broadcasting to scientific line-sowing can improve fiber quality and yield.

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