H. S. Sen H. S. Sen

Quality Improvement in Jute and Kenaf Fibre

Quality Improvement in Jute and Kenaf Fibre

Former Director Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres

(ICAR/DARE, Government of India), Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas West Bengal, India, Pin: 700 120

(Email: hssen2000@hotmail.com, hssen@dataone.in)

It is prudent that for jute industry to survive and possibly flourish

with a much brighter future it should take recourse to this non-

traditional group of products which will require generally the

improved quality fibres.

Commensurate with the expected rise in production of jute and

kenaf by 3-4 times in 2050 of the present value there is a clear

need for proportionately higher attention to non-traditional

diversified products.

The manufacture of diversified jute products requires the use of

best grades of raw jute in most cases, more capital investment,

higher textile levels of design and market skill, more capable and

focused mill management, a degree of entrepreneurship above and

beyond that usually found in the traditional industry, and on the

top of that, considerable R&D expenditure.

The real future, however, lies in the area of technical textiles.

Mass potential

Finest yarn,

fashion

products

Fine yarn,

home textile

clothing

Coarse yarn,

carpet ropes

Filters, high-

tech

composites

Plant pot Geo-

textile, pulp and

paper

Adde

d v

alu

e

Textile products

Added value versus mass potential of bast fibre products

Textile products usually show higher mass potential and higher added value in

comparison to technical applications

Packaging mat.

Car interiors

Composites

The real apprehension in India, Bangladesh and elsewhere is that

instead of meeting the need for improved quality fibres needed for

diversified applications there is possibly a decline in the trend

reported.

If true, the nature and reasons behind it

We need to examine this very

critically for the very survival of

commodity and its stakeholders:

Measures to alleviate the constraints and future suggestions for improvement

Strength and weakness for development of improved quality fibres

Grade Grade-wise break up percentage of

jute fibre

80-85 85 -90 92-97 2005

1 & 2 1.27 1.32 1.86 2.00

3 7.79 8.30 9.86 9.00

4 24.29 25.73 28.20 25.00

5 32.92 41.53 40.20 33.00

6 23.69 17.35 14.82 16.00

7 & 8 8.04 5.77 5.06 15.00

Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Grade-wise break up percentage of jute fibre in India

Grade-wise break-up percentage of fibre

in India

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1980-85 1985 -90 1992-97 2005

Plan periods

Gra

de p

erce

nta

ge

1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 & 8

No clear cut trend in the change in quality throughout last 25 years was observed. However, that there was no consistent improvement in percent quality fibre production is as such highly discouraging in view of growing demand for quality fibre production. Such quantitative observations from Bangladesh and other countries are also warranted

Technological upgradations are required for meeting the prescribed limits with consistency in quality also.

Technical processing Genetic manipulation

Cultural along with retting practices

Through

Through Through

Areas identified in the field of improved quality raw fibre production

Development of

genetic stock

Cultivated

Wild species

Direct

exploration of

germplasms from

centres of origin

Principal

approaches for

crop

improvement

Somatic hybridization including

protoplast manipulation

Biotechnological

approaches

Tissue culture

Inter-specific

hybridization

Genetic

transformation

DNA fingerprinting

Need to

develop

International

collaboration

Adequate funding jute genome

Development of improved

crop varieties

Blending of

cutting-edge

technologies

Traditional approach

for crop improvement

programme. +

Development of

transgenics &

Timely

availability

of good

quality seeds

at affordable

price

Timely

availability

of good

quality seeds

at affordable

price

Diplomatic and

administrative

protocol among

the countries

for timely

distribution

Certification protocol of kenaf seeds Certification protocol of kenaf seeds

Identification

of good quality

seed producing

areas

&

Improved retting practice - Breakthrough

CRIJAF has developed a new machine ‘bast fibre extractor’ run either by 1 H.P. electric motor or 1.5 H.P. Kerosene engine, portable and may easily be taken to the field for operation

Particulars Conventional method

kg/man-hour

Improved method

*kg/machine-hour

Jute 5 25

Mesta 1.5 15

The retting process Whole plant Vs.

machine retted fibre

Conventional vis-a-vis improved method of jute fibre extraction

Particulars Conventional retting Improved retting

Source of power Manual Partly mechanical

Process involved

after harvest

Canes- Defoliation, bundling,

Transport Steeping - in water,

Stripping - fibre

Machine extraction,

steeping of ribbons in water

Retting duration 2 to 3 weeks 5 to 7 days

Water requirement Large volume 20 % of conventional

Drudgery Drudgery in steeping and stripping No Drudgery

Thin plants Lost during processing Salvages fibre (15 %. More)

Extraction capacity 4 to 5 kg dry fibre / man-hour 25 kg dry fibre / machine-

hour

Crop harvest Availability of water regulated the

time

After 100 days.any time

Time requirement 4 weeks 1 week

Quality Roots, knots and specks are present Strong,free from defects

Grade More variation Less variation

Wood stick Entire Small pieces

Extraction Uncontrolled condition Controlled condition

Need to combat

weather

uncertainties

Irregularity in rains

Global warming

Need for

water

storage

Removal of

drainage

congestion at

critical

period

Weather forecasting models

Contingency plan

Identification

of appropriate

variety

resistant to

water stress

Need to stress on

good quality

fibre production

in

Raw fibre production

module with stress on

adverse soil moisture

conditions

Diversified product

identification and

protocol for

manufacture

Quality seed

production and

availability

Kenaf Kenaf

The improved yarns are needed to meet product specific quality norms for the manufacture of

High quality blended apparel grade textiles, Technical, industrial and home textiles including non-woven, Automotives, Soil savers, Bio-composites, Pulp and paper, Fine chemicals, cosmetics and healthcare products, and Bio-fuels.

The manufacture of diversified jute products requires the use of best grades of raw jute in most cases.

Future technological development

Fine jute yarns with average number of fibres per cross

section in the range of 50-100 and fineness 6 lb/ spy and

below with tolerable loss of strength and abrasion

resistance along with improvement of the physico-chemical

properties, such as whiteness, light fastness, flexural

rigidity, water retention value, moisture regain,

extensibility and proportionate increase in alpha-cellulose

content along with proportionate decrease in hemi-

cellulose and lignin contents in jute and kenaf preferably

using recommended chemical processes

Convertible to light, dense and strong new generation hessian

fabrics for market acceptability

Quality yarns which should be cost- and quality-competitive

Proposed

grades

Existing

grades

End products (tentative suggestions)

TD1/W1 1+2 Fine yarn, specialties, carpet backing cloth, items

where fibre quality is important.

TD2/W2 3 Fine yarn, carpet backing cloth, fine Hessian, blended

products, items where fibre quality is important.

TD3/W3 4 Hessian warp, fine Hessian, blended products, items

where fibre quality is important.

TD4/W4 5 Hessian weft, sacking warp, light sacking wept,

blended products.

TD5/W5 6 Ordinary sacking wept, cotton sacking, items where

fineness has no impact.

TD6/W6 7+8 Poor sacking, non-woven, paper and pulp, Geo-textiles,

composites, etc.

A tentative list of end products grade-wise (in India)

Need for internationalizing grading criteria

Technical yarns Mechanical

bonded

non-wovens

Various fields of

application as

reinforcing fibre

Friction linings Paper production

Fibre length

��mean fibre

length

50-100 mm

�CV H

< 70%

Fineness

��mean fineness

5-20 dtex or

20-86 µm

Fibre length

��mean fibre length

20-70 mm

��CV H

50 %

Fineness

��mean fineness

��5 dtex or

��20 µm

Fibre-Fibre- adhesion

high

Fibre tenacity

��tensile strength

700 -1100 N/mm²

or 47-73 cN/tex

��elongation

�2 %

��E-modulus

40-70 kN/mm²

Fibre length

��mean fibre length

3-25 mm/ ��25 mm

��short fibre length

�10 %

Fineness

��mean fineness

3-17 dtex or 10-74

µm

Fibre-Fibre-adhesion

zero

Trash

almost free of dust

and wood

Fibre length

��mean fibre length

0,1-10 mm

��CV H

50%

Fineness

��mean fineness

10-20 µm

Density

1,4-1,5 g/cm³

Surface area

1500-10000 cm²/g

Moisture

8-10%

Flash point

300-600° C

Fibre length

��mean fibre length

4 mm

��Long fibre length

8 mm

��short fibre length

1 mm

Impurities

��trash contents

�10%

��fibre fragments

�10%

Each country has now its’ own grading criteria, so there is a need to internationalize them for

transparency and promotion. Suggested fibre properties for technical applications taking cue from

cotton and wool, as below

“Better price for better grades” is the key for price protection to the farmers.

Government should devise policies and norms

Government should ensure collection mechanism through a transparent

arrangement with the farmers and other stakeholders

Role of agro-retail majors are also very important in this respect

Adequate arrangement for storage and distribution

Government should ensure warehouses for appropriate storage for

reasonable time and support mechanisms for distribution

Training of farmers and other stakeholders for fibre grading

mechanism and ensure appropriate pricing

Government and the agro-retail majors have major roles in this respect

In the raw jute fibre trade, agro-retail majors can be a powerful adjunct to

the activities of the government procurement agencies and as well be a strong

link between raw jute farmers and jute industry, and finally between farmers

and R & D organizations

Countries other than India, Bangladesh and China

adequate campaign in the society

on the ecological benefit of the

use of jute and kenaf

arrangements for training and

incentives for production of value-

added goods

Do not appear to have adequate and well

planned diversification programme

They should put thrust on diversification apart from the production programme of

raw fibre itself

Role of unorganized sector in large number for diversified product development

Their role, strength and weakness should be documented

To be given support to increase their capability through funding, training and infrastructural development

They are in very large in number in each country catering to the demand of

diversified goods very significantly without any record or documentation

The focus is to concentrate increasingly more in a phased

manner for production of the value-added diversified products

for inroads into the market.

Defining ‘benchmarks’ for each component

of the quality profile

Goals for the Industry

Meeting consumers’ perception

and value

Manufacturing jute

products to

substitute existing fibre

products

Defining objectively the ‘quality profile’

as product specificities

Need for modernization

with strict

quality control

Lack of coordination between raw fibre production and technology development R&D agencies.

As a result, raw fibre agency remains

unaware of technological needs of the

industry and vice versa, and thus the

specific targets of one another.

Need for a Road Map for the future

Each country should have a clear road map for diversified goods production phase wise for the next

20-25 years

Grade wise fibre production schedules should be accordingly worked out backwards and the same implemented to meet the goals through appropriate synergy between government (policy makers),

industry, R&D units, and the farmers

In the interest of these countries, the commodity and its stakeholders an understanding at the international level among these countries should arrived at to apportion the product target areas, as per their capabilities and interest, strength and weakness, and allow free exchange of germplasm along with arrangements for frequent interaction to share the views on technological upgradations.

A “Jute Cartel” be formed

for mutual benefit to each –

legal, political and

administrative implications of

which may be discussed in

details

Countries growing jute and kenaf are limited in number although farmers and related stakeholders are disproportionately large in number with restricted size and holding and thus the capacity of each unit. At the same time the industry is confronted with steep challenge increasingly more with time from synthetics.

Need for a “JUTE CARTEL”

Thanks for patient hearing