Jute use legislation

There are other more value added uses of the jute fibre than sacks, bags and the like, and the wise thing to do would be to link up with others in the field to make the best of research and development and switch to trendier items both for home and abroad. Jute need not oust WPP or vice versa if policies are made with the eyes wide open THE mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010, passed with great intentions to boost the classic environment friendly 'sonali ansh' (golden fibre) -- seems to have been badly woven. By making the use of jute bags for packaging all agricultural produce, food stuffs and even cement legally binding, it looks like becoming a non starter. Over 50 woven polypropylene (WPP) factories, which claim to be worth a Tk 15 billion, woven sack manufacturing industry, would be affected by this piece of legislation. So would be end users of the versatile polymer sacks, which cost about a fourth of those made of jute fibre, say stakeholders. Apart from this huge price difference that would impact on the market, there are other practical problems as well, for, jute sacks are hardly suitable for cement or powdered livestock feed or flour meant for people, for that matter, unless they come woven with paper lining. Clearly, the drafters did not feel obliged to study the ground realities of jute and polypropylene before getting the bill passed. Of course the demotion of synthetics proven to be an environmental and health hazard is a worldwide phenomenon, and with it, both traditional jute goods and other diversified items have happily been showing a growing trend. But there are other more value added uses of the jute fibre than sacks, bags and the like, and the wise thing to do would be to link up with others in the field to make the best of research and development (R&D) and switch to trendier items both for home and abroad. Jute need not oust WPP or vice versa if policies are made with the eyes wide open. The good news is, Bangladesh's classic cash crop is regaining, its old importance and is even drawing a number of big players as well, according to reports. Hopefully this would not drive the small entrepreneurs out, something that needs to be guarded against in a country like Bangladesh, where modest enterprises deserve a positive bias, because the cost benefit yields from these in holistic terms -- are certainly greater compared to those from unwieldy, capital-intensive enterprises. This golden fibre's potential is immense paper pulp from green jute and yam for household linen, upholstery and clothing, not to forget existing items like carpets, rugs, twine and sacking. There is no valid reason why the sector should ever be sick because international demand for jute products is often found to be greater than the volume the mills here can deliver. Many entrepreneurs who have proved modestly successful in developing new products that are commercially viable fault the government for not being encouraging enough. Jute floor coverings, for example have won selected markets on account of the fibre's biodegradable as well as fire retardant qualities. Yet policy makers have been permitting the unimpeded import of synthetic floor coverings, and have also been taking a number of negative decisions that seemed to be designed to throttle the sector rather than revamp it. This must be rectified. Manageable, market oriented enterprises, that really mean to do honest business, and enhance the lives of the masses, should be getting as much government support as possible for 'small' should never cease to be beautiful if the majority are to be included in Bangladesh.