Restoring good days of jute is possible

Bangladesh is regarded as the country of 'sujala-suphala-shashya-shyamala'. The country filled with amazing beauty and a variety of crops was once known as the country of golden fibre. Jute was historically the great pride of Bangladesh which was once the only foreign exchange earning sector of Bangladesh. But jute loses its glory due to many reasons. A good number of alternatives of jute have been discovered. Apathy to cultivate jute is created among farmers for not getting fair price.

The present government undertakes efforts to restore the lost glory of jute, reclaiming its repute of being the country's "golden fibre". The maiden National Jute Day has been celebrated across the country on March 6 with a slogan titled 'sonali asher sonar desh, patponner Bangladesh'. Programmes have been chalked out for eight days on the occasion. Organising Diversified Jute Goods Fair is one of them.

While inaugurating the fair at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in the capital on Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "The golden days of jute sector have come back again. Jute is environment friendly. Nothing can be more improved than jute. We have to put emphasis on the importance of the use of modern technology for jute production and its conservation. Producing diversified goods from jute, we will export them abroad. Jute has that immense possibility in the age of this modern technology."

The prime minister stressed for the modernization and diversification of jute products to reclaim the lost glory of the fibre.

We need to promote jute for increasing its demand in local and international market and speeding up the sequence for regeneration and modernization of jute industry. To meet that goal, National Jute Day is being celebrated across the country. In order to uphold the progress of jute industry, the current government has made the use of jute goods mandatory for packaging six local products such as paddy, wheat, rice, maize, sugar and fertilizer. Besides, the government is taking steps to make the use of jute goods mandatory for packaging 12 more products. As a result, the demand of jute has increased much in the local market. In the recent years, exports of diversified jute goods have increased to the world market despite various   barriers.

It is here to be mentioned that our neighbouring country India has been successful by adopting various government and non government initiatives in a bid to take the jute sector forward for last 18 years. India has earned Rs 10,000 crore only from the diversified jute goods.

Bags, fashionable dress, home décor and corporate gifts are being made by the use of jute fibre. Being environment friendly, the demand of jute goods is increasing globally. Again, the use and demand of jute goods is increasing in many countries as use of polythene is banned in those countries.

Bangladesh has a bright prospect to build a good position in this sector. The country can create a leading position in the global market by developing jute goods and design. It is possible to restore the good days of jute if its production can be continued as per the plan. Only production of diversified jute goods is not enough to restore the lost glory of jute, it needs to develop design, bring diversity and to make the jute goods useful in line with world market.

risingbd/DHAKA/Mar 10, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul