<P> Retting is the process of extracting fibers from the long lasting life stem or bast of the bast fiber plants . The available retting processes are: mechanical retting (hammering), chemical retting (boiling & applying chemicals), steam / vapor / dew retting, and water or microbial retting . Among them, the water or microbial retting is a century old but the most popular process in extracting fine bast fibers . However, selection of these retting processes depends on the availability of water and the cost of retting process . </P> <P> To extract fine fibers from jute plant, a small stalk is harvested for pre-retting . Usually, this small stalk is brought before 2 weeks of harvesting time . If the fiber can easily be removed from the Jute hurd or core, then the crop is ready for harvesting . </P> <P> After harvesting, the jute stalks are tied into bundles and submerged in soft running water . The stalk stays submerged in water for 20 days . However, the retting process may require less time if the quality of the jute is better . In most cases, the fiber extraction process of bast fibers in water retting is done by the farmers while standing under water . </P> <P> When the jute stalk is well retted, the stalk is grabbed in bundles and hit with a long wooden hammer to make the fiber loose from the jute hurd or core . After loosing the fiber, the fiber is washed with water and squeezed for dehydration . The extracted fibers is further washed with fresh water and allowed to dry on bamboo poles . Finally, they are tied into small bundles to be sold into the primary market . </P>

Soaking the jute plants in water is called