Question

Describe briefly the processing of jute.

Answer 1

1. Jute is harvested by hand by pulling up the stem. It is dried and stripped of unwanted leaves and is put in water and allowed to rot. This process, known as retting, was once done by submerging the jute into ponds and streams but is now done in special tanks.
2. Retting softens the outer bark and facilitates the early removability of the fibre within.
3. Chemical additives help in the retting operation.
4. The fleshy part of the stem is eventually decomposed and the fibres are then scraped to remove any remaining pieces of the soft vegetable matter.
5. After drying, the fibres are loosely spun and woven, and are used in making sacks and bags, carpet, upholstery, etc.