Post-harvest retting and extraction of jute fibres and fiber quality of jute

1. Harvesting:

• Jute crop may be harvested for fiber purpose before flowering, between 120-150 days after sowing.
• It can be harvested by cutting the plants at the ground level with sharp sickles. Early harvesting gives finer fiber of good quality whereas late harvesting gives a larger yield but a coarser fiber.
• Small pod stage is considered ideal stage for harvesting.

• The plants are tied into bundles of 20-25cm diameter and left standing in the field for 2-3 days for shedding of leaves.
• The apical portion may be severed and left in the field.