Raw jute, mesta output seen down 14%

India's production of raw jute and mesta was estimated to have declined by 14 per cent (95.55 lakh bales) in 2004-05 an estimated 111.37 lakh bales in the previous fiscal, according to the Jute Manufacturers Development Council.

West Bengal was expected to retain its lead with an estimated production of 69.20 lakh bales in 2004-05, despite of 17.20 per cent decline from the previous year's estimated figure of 83.67 lakh bales in 2003-04. That would account to around 80 per cent of the country's production of 86.81 lakh bales.

In Mesta though, Bengal would be following Andhra Pradesh with an estimated production of 1.12 lakh bales in 2004-05 accounting to 12.8 per cent of the India's production of 8.74 lakh bales.

Unlike in jute, WB's production in mesta was estimated to register a growth of around 25 per cent from the previous year's estimated figure of 0.9 lakh bales in 2003-04.

AP was expected to contribute around 19 per cent of the country mesta production in 2004-05. The country has already produced 11.58 lakh tonne of jute good with Sacking contributing to around 6.98 lakh tonne and Hessian's share being 227.3 lakh tonne during April-December, 2004.

The country's production of jute good in 2003-04 was 15.71 lakh tonne.

The country had already exported Rs 334.82 crore worth jute good during April-July 2004-05, against Rs 1051.88 crore export in the previous year, revealed the data.

Europe alone accounted for Rs 388.91 crore jute good in 2003-04 , followed by United States of America's (USA) share of Rs 188.70 crore worth jute goods from India, together contributing to nearly 55 per cent of India's export.

Data further revealed that India's production in jute, kenaf and allied fibres in 2003-04 was in the tune of 19.77 lakh tonne, registering a global share of more than 60 per cent.