Indian Jute Mills Association and Balers Association have also expressed concern over the issue and sought the intervention of central and state governments to tackle the crisis.

Accordingly, a meeting between industry stakeholders and the ministry is scheduled for later on (22nd July) Monday, an official said.

“Despite a bumper crop year in 2023-24, where domestic supply was sufficient, mills continued to import large quantities of raw jute from Bangladesh. In June 2024 alone, 73,000 bales, or 22 percent of the total of 3,34,000 bales, were imported,” Jute Balers’ Association Secretary Pulak Jha said.

Though there is an opening stock of 3 million bales of raw jute for the jute season as of July 1, 2024, and the new crop is also around the corner. These factors caused prices to plummet below the minimum support price (MSP), Jute Balers’ Association Senior Functionary Om Prakash Soni said.

Prices of the golden fiber fell below Rs 5,000 per quintal, while the minimum support price (MSP) is Rs 5,335 per quintal for the 2024-25 season, he added.

In this situation, Millions of Indian people’s livelihoods are at risk, the letter stated, and it calls for prompt government action to stop “unregulated imports” and deal with the issue of fewer orders.

The association demanded a reaffirmation of commitment to authorized methods as well as a rigorous crackdown on alleged unlawful jute imports.