Quality coarse yarn can be produced from Dhanicha

FE ReportbrThe fibre of Dhanicha (scientific name Fussbnia Rostata); a jute-like crop commonly grown on the fallow lands during the rainy season all over the country can be made to produce industrial quality coarse yarn.brThis Dhanicha yarn -- widely resembling in terms of appearance to its nearest kin jute yarn as its innovators claim -- has great export potentials in future. brThe same Dhanicha that has so far been used merely as fuel or for fencing in the rural areas, can turn out to a foreign exchange earner if produced commercially, Mozibul Haque, a garments industrialist who claims to be the architect of this agricultural innovation told a gathering of reporters at Press Club Tuesday.brA common crop all over the country, especially in the Char areas and widely cultivated in the riverside sand soil; Dhanicha requires far less care and labour to grow but offers a far less expensive alternative to jute, he observed. brThe coarse yarn that we have presented here as sample is an equal admixture of Jute fibre and Dhanicha fibre, which the preliminary research has proved to increase the strength and the durability of this yarn comparing to that made of jute exclusively, he claimed. brWhile a ton of jute is sold for Tk. 1500 in the market, a ton of Dhanicha can cost Tk. 300 at best, he observed. brThus, Dhanicha offers a reliable and durable option of fibre and yarn at a reduced cost, Mozibul Haque, whose father Abdul Haque Bhuiyan was a pioneer of IRRI research in the country, opined.brWhatsoever is produced from jute fibre, including yarn fabric, grain sack, shopping bag, carpet backing, home textiles and floor mat, can also be produced from this Dhanicha fibre as well, Mozibul affirmed.brUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has already declared the year 2009 as 'The Year of Natural Fibre'. China on the other hand has already gone polyethylene free from last month, he informed.brChairman of Center for Development Research, Bangladesh (CDRB) and Editor of Asian Affairs Mizanur Rahman Shelley was also present on the occasion as the Chief Guest.brThe land that was world famous for its cotton industry back in the 15th century, still has so much potentiality hidden beneath its soil, he said in his speech. brThe idea of exploring an alternative option for natural fiber first came into my mind after attending a fair in the USA, Mozibul narrates. Then, I began to experiment on the jute grown in the vicinity of my factory at Savar.brI received extensive support from Bangladesh Jute Research Institute regarding my endeavor, Mozibul affirmed. Now I am willing to spread the message of my research all throughout the country so that the farmers in the coming season are encouraged to cultivate extensively this highly potential crop, he added.brAlso, entrepreneurs in the Jute sector and other industry should come forward to explore ways of further development and begin the commercial production of Dhanicha yarn, Mozibul recommended. brLater, he proposed this agricultural innovation to be named after the first four alphabets of his name, Mozi-1. The world renown Linen, which is the fibre of Flex has been named in the same manner, he informed.