to increase use of jute, a mandatory packaging act was passed. But it is sad to note that this act is still not implemented while the use of banned polythene bags has made a loud comeback

Need to implement an effective jute policy

Country’s jute industry bears prospects as the export of jute sacks and bags is growing  in recent times. Prospects of jute and jute diversified products (JDP) are also  looking up because their demand in the international markets including the European Union is rising. These developments have already triggered setting up of several new jute bag manufacturing units across the country. But the export of raw jute has not seen an increase in recent times. In fact it is declining. This indicates that farmers are not being able to produce quality jute according to the international demands and the government should extend help to farmers in this regard.  
Instead of doing what actually is necessary, it appears the government wants to bring the jute mills under state control. But it would be quite wrong to  renationalize the jute mills which have already been privatised when these mills are making profits. The fact of the matter is the jute mills that are operating under government control are incurring losses. The statistics say in the last three years the government-owned jute mills  suffered a loss of Tk 776 crore.
The government should, in fact, concentrate on other areas. Jute growers of the country do not get quality jute seeds, and in time. They expect that the government would provide them with seeds of good varieties such as Lal Tosa O795, BJRI 98 & 97 in appropriate time in the jute growing season that is before the 25th of February. They also do not get adequate water for jute retting in season and the C grade jute is greatly damaged due to scarcity of water.
Jute farmers also complain that the government usually declares jute price much later after they sell off their stocks. Evidently, the middlemen were the beneficiaries of last year’s price, not the poor growers. That is why it is very important that the government should buy jute directly from the farmers.
Only quality jute and quality products can ensure a possible revival of jute of Bangladesh that supplied world’s 80% per cent jute in 1950s and 1960s. To increase use of jute, a mandatory packaging act was passed. But it is sad to note that this act is still not implemented while the use of banned polythene bags has made a loud comeback. But jute’s future considerably depends on how successfully we can expand its use internally also. As demand of jute is increasing around the world, Bangladesh needs to take right steps to revive its glorious days in this sector. For this we need an appropriate jute policy first.

to increase use of jute, a mandatory packaging act was passed. But it is sad to note that this act is still not implemented while the use of banned polythene bags has made a loud comeback

Need to implement an effective jute policy

Countrys jute industry bears prospects as the export of jute sacks and bags is growing in recent times. Prospects of jute and jute diversified products (JDP) are also looking up because their demand in the international markets including the European Union is rising. These developments have already triggered setting up of several new jute bag manufacturing units across the country. But the export of raw jute has not seen an increase in recent times. In fact it is declining. This indicates that farmers are not being able to produce quality jute according to the international demands and the government should extend help to farmers in this regard. Instead of doing what actually is necessary, it appears the government wants to bring the jute mills under state control. But it would be quite wrong to renationalize the jute mills which have already been privatised when these mills are making profits. The fact of the matter is the jute mills that are operating under government control are incurring losses. The statistics say in the last three years the government-owned jute mills suffered a loss of Tk 776 crore. The government should, in fact, concentrate on other areas. Jute growers of the country do not get quality jute seeds, and in time. They expect that the government would provide them with seeds of good varieties such as Lal Tosa O795, BJRI 98 97 in appropriate time in the jute growing season that is before the 25th of February. They also do not get adequate water for jute retting in season and the C grade jute is greatly damaged due to scarcity of water. Jute farmers also complain that the government usually declares jute price much later after they sell off their stocks. Evidently, the middlemen were the beneficiaries of last years price, not the poor growers. That is why it is very important that the government should buy jute directly from the farmers. Only quality jute and quality products can ensure a possible revival of jute of Bangladesh that supplied worlds 80% per cent jute in 1950s and 1960s. To increase use of jute, a mandatory packaging act was passed. But it is sad to note that this act is still not implemented while the use of banned polythene bags has made a loud comeback. But jutes future considerably depends on how successfully we can expand its use internally also. As demand of jute is increasing around the world, Bangladesh needs to take right steps to revive its glorious days in this sector. For this we need an appropriate jute policy first.