GTA wants promote use of more jute in foodgrain packaging

The Gunny Traders Association on Friday urged the Centre to promote the usage of more jute in packaging foodgrains instead of plastics.

"The association requests the Ministry of Textiles to do whatever they can do to enforce the JPMA Act 1987 in toto and bring more foodgrain items under its ambit," GTA president Amal Prashad Kshettry said here at the 93rd AGM.

There is a constant "threat" of dilution of packaging order from the jute industry, which engages "some 2 lakh workers", and "four lakh farmers" survive on jute farming.

The association members said gunny traders are faced with dwindling business, and owing to the Goods and Services Tax, several such small traders are forced to take an exit from the trade.