A multidisciplinary team of scientists from the ICAR – Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, has won the prestigious National Societal Innovation Award – 2020, established by the National Research Development Corporation under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi, for their contribution to the development of “Innovation in jute retting technology through microbial consortium ‘CRIJAF SONA’.
The Eco-friendly Fibre-JUTE
Jute fibre, which is biodegradable and environmentally beneficial, directly or indirectly supports the livelihoods of nearly 5 million agricultural households.
The production and quality of jute fibre are determined by a microbe-dependent post-harvest, water-steeped extraction process known as “retting.” As a result, the efficiency of the retting process is critically reliant on the amount and efficiency of bacteria present in the retting water.
The current invention is the creation of the first commercial talc-based microbial formulation dubbed “CRIJAF SONA” for speedier retting of jute and mesta.
CRIJAF SONA- For Faster Retting of Jute & Mesta
This microbial formulation’s innovative microbial strains have unique pectin and hemicellulose degrading characteristics without causing cellulose breakdown. This microbial formulation “CRIJAF SONA” shortens jute retting by 6-7 days, boosts fibre output by 8 to 10% and fibre quality by 2 to 3 classes, decreases labour and water needs by around 35%, and raises farmers’ income by Rs. 12000-15000 per hectare.
In the last six years, the “CRIJAF SONA” technology has been marketed and implemented by 5.5 lakh farmers. The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, also implemented the technology on a big scale in all of the country’s jute and mesta farming states. Thus, this indigenously produced technique has the potential to increase the economics of jute farmers in India and other jute-growing nations by supplying high-quality jute fibre that can be utilised to make a variety of jute-based goods.
The Team Work Behind CRIJAF SONA:
The National Societal Innovation Award 2020 consists of a cash prize of Rs. three lakh, certificate and citation. The team of scientists involved in development and promotion of the technology who bagged this award are Dr. Bijan Majumdar, Dr. Amit Ranjan Saha, Ms. Suparna Das, Dr. Subhojit Datta, Dr. Dipnarayan Saha, Ms. Lipi Chattopadhyay, Dr. Suniti Kumar Jha and Dr. Gouranga Kar.