Mandate of the Corporation is to carry out procurement of raw jute / mesta from the growers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by the Government of India every year. JCI is obliged to buy raw jute offered by growers at the government declared MSP without any quantitative limits.
JCI carries out MSP operations through its 110 Departmental Purchase Centres (DPC) under the administrative control of 14 Regional offices and the Head office at Kolkata. The infrastructure of the Corporation is spread across the six jute growing states of the country viz. West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Tripura & Andhra Pradesh.
Every year, JCI carries out an exercise to keep its infrastructure in readiness to handle any eventuality with regard to occurrence of MSP situation, which involves the following :
Publicity of information on MSP through loud speaker announcements and leaflet distribution in all jute growing areas.
Communication with State Administrative Authorities like District Authorities, Blocks, Panchayats, Agriculture Offices etc;
Display of MSP rates in all Purchase Centres.
Repair and maintenance of Purchase Centres
Manning of Purchase Centres
Engaging outsourced agencies to carry out MSP Purchase operations on behalf of JCI
Keeping necessary equipment, required for MSP operations in all readiness by properly calibrating them.
Keeping transportation arrangements ready for quick despatch.
Arrangement of funds from banks for procurement under MSP Operations.
Under MSP operations, the Corporation procures jute from the registered farmers in loose and un-assorted form. Post arrival, the assessment of jute is done with regard to moisture and quality and average prices is ascertained.
After completion of the purchase operation, payment is made directly to the bank account of the farmers through centralised RTGS mode within three working days.
The Corporation has set a daily purchase limit of 300 qntls. / day for one centre and such limit is 1800 qtls./week / centre. Assortment and packing should be geared to the level of daily purchase so as to avoid accumulation of loose jute and consequent stoppage of purchase.
Allowable moisture percentage in raw jute is as follows:-
Sl No
Period
South Bengal
Other than South Bengal
1
July to October
18%
16%
2
November to June
16%
14%
Deduction in the quantity may be made on account of higher level moisture regain percentage and dust or foreign materials present in jute. However, abnormally excess moisture (Not more than 4% allowable limit listed above) jute should not be purchased.
The Centre In-Charge ensures the presence of Guards at the DPCs as per approved policy to avoid possible theft / fire hazard etc.
Safety aspects of DPC is given prime importance. Fire-fighting equipment, Fire Extinguisher and other safety arrangements are kept in working condition at all times. There is adequate water availability for fire- fighting each DPC. Centres follows rules as per Fire Safety Policy/ Manual.
