Jute geotextile holds out immense promise
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Shahiduzzaman Khan
Jute geotextile has immense potential both in domestic and international market as it possesses much more advantages than the synthetic fibres.
It is used in controlling soil erosion -- of roadside, riverbanks and hillsides. As India is using jute geotextile in the construction of national roads, this could also be used in road construction in Bangladesh. The USA has been using both synthetic and jute geo-textile for road and highways construction.
Jute geotextile is a kind of fibre that addresses geo-technical problems. It is of different kinds -- coir geotextile, jute geotextile and blend of different fibres. Geotextiles can be effectively used in the management of eroding slopes of roads and railway embankments, mild landslides, prevention of railway track settlement, river embankment and management of solid waste. Presently, some 20,000 tonnes of jute is being used for geotextiles globally, accounting for about two per cent of the market segment. The jute geotextile market has doubled since 1980.
Jute geotextile has some advantages. It is biodegradable and it does not spoil the fertility of soil. It is highly hygroscopic and can suck water as well as helps consolidate soil, enhances the flexibility of soil and above all, it is cheaper than the synthetic fibres. This item can be produced in the country's jute mills as raw materials are available locally. This can even be made from inferior jute.
Jute geotextile had so far been used locally in two projects - Hatirjheel project and the road from Prime Minister's office to Agargaon in the capital. It is now being used globally, including the USA and Australia. It is more environment-friendly than traditional geotextiles. Bangladesh is the major contributor of jute geotextiles. It's a new idea and if the use of geotextiles could be increased, the demand of jute would further rise and also its cultivation.
A five-year project, titled 'Development and Application of Potentially Important Jute Geo Textile', is going to be implemented in Bangladesh and India under the auspices of Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) to promote jute geotextile. Of the total project cost of US$ 3.962 million, CFC is providing $2.045 million, Indian counterpart contribution will be $1.24 million while Bangladesh counterpart contribution is $0.567 million. IJSG is the supervising agency of the project while Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) is the collaborating institution.
As of now, Latif Bawany Mills under the state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), and privately-owned Janata Jute Mills are now exporting jute geotextiles to different destinations including EU, Australia and Canada. Janata Jute Mills exports around 2,000-2,500 tonnes of jute geotextiles every year.
The International Jute Study Group (IJSG) has suggested that Bangladesh government should use jute geotextile with concrete in construction of roads and highways in order to enhance jute usage. Indian experiment of effective usage of jute geotextile with concrete in constructing roads has been highly successful. This is one of the main reasons for the return of good days for jute there. Jute geotextile can be used as layers in making highways as the item is much more biodegradable than any other ingredients. If the jute geotextile is used in the construction of roads, the production of jute will definitely increase and farmers will get fair prices of the item because the government will purchase the item in bulk amount directly from them.
An ILSG roadmap for revival of the jute sector suggested the government to introduce a system for direct purchase of jute at growers' level. It said the government should buy jute from the growers to stop any price deprivation of the growers by middlemen. The jute has lost its glory from this region as farmers are often denied fair prices of their produces. ILSG also suggested a public-private partnership for operating the jute mills to minimise the losses.
The research group prepared a roadmap for the jute sector under a project funded by the Geneva-based International Trade Council (ITC). The roadmap also advocated subsidy for the jute farmers and increasing uses of jute bags in processing of sugar, rice and other daily necessities. The Indian government made the use of jute bags mandatory in processing of sugar and rice as the bags made of jute are more environment-friendly.
Jute geotextiles are textiles used in or near the ground to enhance the ground's characteristics. Applications are usually in the field of civil engineering and environmental engineering and consequently the design of these applications is often closely associated with geo-technical engineering.
Demand for jute would increase manifold when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) would use the jute geotextile for constructing embankment or barrage to prevent river erosion, in addition to road construction.
Public and private jute mills together will not be able to meet the growing demand of jute geotextile when the use of this item will start fully due to stock crisis. Moreover, it will not be commercially viable for the country to meet the demand through imports. As a result, the government should start vigorous campaign to increase the production of jute through massive cultivation right now.
Despite a big prospect, the jute industry is currently facing a crisis due to lack of proper management of the sector. Most experts and businessmen involved with the sector blame the wrong policies of the past governments for the current condition of the sector. Despite being one of the highest foreign currency-earning sectors, the sector faced difficulties since the nineties when the government decided to shut down many mills under pressure from the World Bank. Besides, the military-controlled caretaker government was also responsible for the present state of the jute sector of the country. In 2007, the-then chief of the caretaker government ordered closure of four jute mills. 'Insufficient performance' was cited as the reason for closing down the mills.
Bangladeshi jute sector has tremendous possibilities. Economists have time and again recommended that total revival of the sector will ensure employment, inflow of foreign currency through exports and in other ways. In addition, the country's infrastructure, communication, manpower and land conditions are conducive to the growth of such an industry.
Bangladesh can take the opportunity of the worldwide environmental concern to popularize use of jute and jute geotextile. If proper management policies are adopted, the jute sector will be a profitable one. There can be no question about the possibility of the revival of jute sector since jute industries have been a profitable one in Bangladesh for decades. Short-term and long-term steps are needed to bring about a positive change in this sector. Due emphasis must be given on the diversified use of jute and jute geotextile.
szkhan@dhaka.net
Jute geotextile has immense potential both in domestic and international market as it possesses much more advantages than the synthetic fibres.
It is used in controlling soil erosion -- of roadside, riverbanks and hillsides. As India is using jute geotextile in the construction of national roads, this could also be used in road construction in Bangladesh. The USA has been using both synthetic and jute geo-textile for road and highways construction.
Jute geotextile is a kind of fibre that addresses geo-technical problems. It is of different kinds -- coir geotextile, jute geotextile and blend of different fibres. Geotextiles can be effectively used in the management of eroding slopes of roads and railway embankments, mild landslides, prevention of railway track settlement, river embankment and management of solid waste. Presently, some 20,000 tonnes of jute is being used for geotextiles globally, accounting for about two per cent of the market segment. The jute geotextile market has doubled since 1980.
Jute geotextile has some advantages. It is biodegradable and it does not spoil the fertility of soil. It is highly hygroscopic and can suck water as well as helps consolidate soil, enhances the flexibility of soil and above all, it is cheaper than the synthetic fibres. This item can be produced in the country's jute mills as raw materials are available locally. This can even be made from inferior jute.
Jute geotextile had so far been used locally in two projects - Hatirjheel project and the road from Prime Minister's office to Agargaon in the capital. It is now being used globally, including the USA and Australia. It is more environment-friendly than traditional geotextiles. Bangladesh is the major contributor of jute geotextiles. It's a new idea and if the use of geotextiles could be increased, the demand of jute would further rise and also its cultivation.
A five-year project, titled 'Development and Application of Potentially Important Jute Geo Textile', is going to be implemented in Bangladesh and India under the auspices of Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) to promote jute geotextile. Of the total project cost of US$ 3.962 million, CFC is providing $2.045 million, Indian counterpart contribution will be $1.24 million while Bangladesh counterpart contribution is $0.567 million. IJSG is the supervising agency of the project while Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) is the collaborating institution.
As of now, Latif Bawany Mills under the state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), and privately-owned Janata Jute Mills are now exporting jute geotextiles to different destinations including EU, Australia and Canada. Janata Jute Mills exports around 2,000-2,500 tonnes of jute geotextiles every year.
The International Jute Study Group (IJSG) has suggested that Bangladesh government should use jute geotextile with concrete in construction of roads and highways in order to enhance jute usage. Indian experiment of effective usage of jute geotextile with concrete in constructing roads has been highly successful. This is one of the main reasons for the return of good days for jute there. Jute geotextile can be used as layers in making highways as the item is much more biodegradable than any other ingredients. If the jute geotextile is used in the construction of roads, the production of jute will definitely increase and farmers will get fair prices of the item because the government will purchase the item in bulk amount directly from them.
An ILSG roadmap for revival of the jute sector suggested the government to introduce a system for direct purchase of jute at growers' level. It said the government should buy jute from the growers to stop any price deprivation of the growers by middlemen. The jute has lost its glory from this region as farmers are often denied fair prices of their produces. ILSG also suggested a public-private partnership for operating the jute mills to minimise the losses.
The research group prepared a roadmap for the jute sector under a project funded by the Geneva-based International Trade Council (ITC). The roadmap also advocated subsidy for the jute farmers and increasing uses of jute bags in processing of sugar, rice and other daily necessities. The Indian government made the use of jute bags mandatory in processing of sugar and rice as the bags made of jute are more environment-friendly.
Jute geotextiles are textiles used in or near the ground to enhance the ground's characteristics. Applications are usually in the field of civil engineering and environmental engineering and consequently the design of these applications is often closely associated with geo-technical engineering.
Demand for jute would increase manifold when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) would use the jute geotextile for constructing embankment or barrage to prevent river erosion, in addition to road construction.
Public and private jute mills together will not be able to meet the growing demand of jute geotextile when the use of this item will start fully due to stock crisis. Moreover, it will not be commercially viable for the country to meet the demand through imports. As a result, the government should start vigorous campaign to increase the production of jute through massive cultivation right now.
Despite a big prospect, the jute industry is currently facing a crisis due to lack of proper management of the sector. Most experts and businessmen involved with the sector blame the wrong policies of the past governments for the current condition of the sector. Despite being one of the highest foreign currency-earning sectors, the sector faced difficulties since the nineties when the government decided to shut down many mills under pressure from the World Bank. Besides, the military-controlled caretaker government was also responsible for the present state of the jute sector of the country. In 2007, the-then chief of the caretaker government ordered closure of four jute mills. 'Insufficient performance' was cited as the reason for closing down the mills.
Bangladeshi jute sector has tremendous possibilities. Economists have time and again recommended that total revival of the sector will ensure employment, inflow of foreign currency through exports and in other ways. In addition, the country's infrastructure, communication, manpower and land conditions are conducive to the growth of such an industry.
Bangladesh can take the opportunity of the worldwide environmental concern to popularize use of jute and jute geotextile. If proper management policies are adopted, the jute sector will be a profitable one. There can be no question about the possibility of the revival of jute sector since jute industries have been a profitable one in Bangladesh for decades. Short-term and long-term steps are needed to bring about a positive change in this sector. Due emphasis must be given on the diversified use of jute and jute geotextile.
szkhan@dhaka.net