To help the Indian jute industry to compete with neighbouring Bangladesh in diversified jute products, the Union minister Smriti Irani at an ICC event last evening has called for an improvement in raw jute quality.

For the purpose, the jute farmers will have to be given good seeds which would also raise productivity and their income level.

She said that this is a pressure on the jute industry and the issues are related to the quality of raw jute. The quality can be improved by using good quality seeds.

Irani also advocated the use of jute in building road infrastructure.

The minister also urged the industry to pay the dues of the labourers. It would make the industry to pick up any amount of government orders it wanted.