Sugar mills asked to ensure mandatory packaging of 20% output in jute bags from 2023-24 season

The government has directed sugar mills to ensure compliance with the mandatory packaging of 20 per cent of production in jute bags from the coming sugar season. The sugar season in the country begins in October. 

Sugar mills are being reviewed at the highest government level and are directed to take appropriate action prior to the onset of the sugar season 2023-24, according to an official statement, dated August 11. 

"As you are aware that the relevant fields to add the packaging details have already been added in the P-2 form of the NSWS portal, therefore the correct information with respect to packaging details shall be filled by all the sugar mills in their P-2 form," the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, wrote to sugar mills. 

The National Single Window System (NSWS) is a digital platform that offers guidance in identifying and applying for pre-operation and pre-establishment approvals required for setting up a business. 

All sugar mills are requested "to ensure strict compliance" with the 20 per cent jute packaging requirement from the sugar season 2023-24, the DFPD said.

In February, the government extended the packaging norms, mandating all food grains and 20 per cent of sugar to be packed in jute bags, in a move aimed at protecting the environment-friendly jute industry.

Why is jute important for the domestic economy?

Jute is a natural, bio-degradable, renewable and reusable fibre, and hence fulfils all sustainability parameters. The jute industry plays an important role in the domestic economy, especially in states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The jute packaging reservation norms account for direct employment to 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farmers.

About three-fourths of the total output of the jute industry comprises sacking bags, 90 per cent of which are supplied to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state procurement agencies. 

The government purchases jute sacking bags worth about Rs 8,000 crore every year for packing food grains. 

(With inputs from agencies)