It is a welcome piece of news that Bangladesh’s resolution “Natural Plant Fibres and Sustainable Development” has been adopted by the United Nations. This endorsement by the international community would help create a stronger, effective and efficient ‘global value chain’ for Bangladesh’s jute. So is the expectation here in Bangladesh.

While the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh that worked for the adoption of the resolution by the UN deserve thanks, it must be pointed out that among the farmers in Bangladesh jute as a cash crop has lost its appeal. If jute has to revive a comeback in these days of artificial plastic materials, the government must help the farmers in producing quality jute.

Besides the adoption of UN resolution, it is also true that prospects of jute and jute diversified products (JDP) are opening up because their demand in the international markets including the European Union has increased. This development has 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. 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.  

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.

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 reappearance. But jute’s future considerably depends on how successfully we can expand its use internally also. For jute’s external and internal expansion, the necessity of producing quality jute can hardly be overemphasised.