Conventional jute retting process currently being followed by the marginal jute farmers is an uncontrolled time consuming, environmentally hazardous and labour intensive process which badly affects the quality of jute fibres under adverse geo-climatic conditions. In India around 20.0 Lakh MT of jute fibres are produced annually which are extracted out from jute plants by the farmers following mostly conventional retting method. There is also scanty and erratic rain fall in jute retting season which is also found not favorable for conventional jute retting process. In Indian context more than 70% of jute fibres generated is either average or poor in quality and hence found not remunerative to the jute farmers. Hence, there is a gradual shift of farmers from cultivation of jute to some other crops appears to be beneficial to them.

IJIRA-SUBHRA consists of three retting efficient bacteria which accelerate the retting process of jute. The synergistic effect of pectinolytic and lignolytic effect of the three bacteria results in obtaining finer jute fibre with better bundle strength in reduced time period. IJIRA-SUBHRA bacteria are applied on the jute plants in vegetative form which enables them to colonize and metabolize faster than the spore form resulting in reduction of lag phase.

All the three bacteria, isolated and selected by IJIRA, belong to Biosafety level-1, hence, completely safe for jute farmers as well as the environment.