WB mulling to use German technology to process jute for newsprint

To promote alternate usage of jute West Bengal's agriculture department is keen to import German technology to start processing jute for newsprint.

West Bengal is one of the leading producers of jute in the world. It is looking at identifying more diversified uses of the crop as jute is no longer the preferred packaging material.

"Newsprints are in high demand. I have already spoken to the industries minister on the issue of bringing in the technology from Germany and locating a private partner here for commercialising jute processing for newsprint.", said Naren De, state agriculture minister.

The state government could take the help of the Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) at Barrackpore to co-develop the technology.