Revival of jute through its diversified use
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Ferdaus Ara Begum
Recent innovation of jute genome sequencing has made people optimistic about revival of the past glory of jute. Jute genome decoding project has advanced us one stage ahead. The success of the project has opened a new window of RB-NRB (resident Bangladeshis and non-resident Bangladeshis) collaboration. We always blame ourselves that we are poor in manpower resources. Actually it is not, if we consider our NRB resources.
Jute is the second most important natural fibre next to cotton. It occupies a very significant place in the national economy of Bangladesh. It is the sector where a substantial number of players including farmers, traders, input suppliers, exporters both at private and public sector are involved. Bangladesh is the largest exporters of raw jute and jute goods in the world market which meets 95% world demand of raw jute and 60% of jute goods. Full exploitation of this hidden resources once called as the Golden Fibre of Bangladesh can be rejuvenated with this new innovation.
The sector contributed 4% to GDP in 2007-08. It engages a large number of industrial labours, which is next to RMG sector. People are getting more environmentally conscious now. So use of jute as a biodegradable product has immense potentials. Markets of jute are expanding and demand for diversified jute based products are greater than ever.
Raw Jute export from India is almost zero. Whereas, of Bangladesh's jute export worth $504.35 million, raw jute fetched about US$ 134.89 million and jute goods US $ 369.46 million in 2008-09. In terms of value addition Jute is hundred percent value added product. If we take a concerted efforts export of jute can be increased up to the level of RMG.
Bangladesh requires 80/100 man days, whereas India requires 31-55 man days for jute production. India provides export subsidies for Hessian (20%), Yarn(15%), Sackings(20%), JDP(25%). India established a Jute Technology Bank, which is absent in Bangladesh. India is providing huge subsidy, whereas in Bangladesh whatever subsidy the government is providing is meant for the large entrepreneurs and not for the small one. A recent policy of making mandatory use of jute packaging is another positive step, which can do a lot for this sector. Now we need to increases its production.
Future plan of India in developing jute sector is clearly specified. Bangladesh also needs a clear jute sector-mapping plan.
A seminar on eco-friendly pulp and paper processing from jute was organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) early this year. One of the key objectives of the seminar was to set a joint-strategy involving both public and private to optimise use of jute for producing more value-added products, reduce import dependence of quality paper and pulp and help establish an eco-friendly quality and cost-effective business sector for producing pulp and paper. The new Industrial Policy is going to be announced soon wherein jute has been given priority. DCCI is willing to go ahead to do more on jute sector for diversification of its use.
It was not long ago when Bangladesh's foremost foreign exchange earner was jute. However unfortunate but true, over time, traditional usage of jute declined drastically due to the emergence of synthetic fibers.
We have opportunity to make best use of jute through using green jute for pulp and paper.as jute has the potential to contribute substantially to our economy and to the economic development by creating massive rural employment, alleviating poverty, and of course, protecting the climate. Bangladesh and jute are intertwined with each other. Therefore, we need to create the revival of jute through innovation and diversification, we would like to see the diversified use of jute particularly pulp and paper making, as we feel that Bangladesh has the potential to become a major pulp and paper producer from green jute in the global arena.
Green jute based pulp and paper making will help save forests from Brazil to Bangladesh. Bangladesh being one of the densely populated countries has only 9% forest. Whereas, it needs to have at least 25% area covered by forest. The climate fund created in the recently held "Copenhagen Summit" can be used in funding new entrepreneurs to setup paper mills based on green jute. Bangladesh produces 33% of the total raw jute of world and exports approx. 94% as raw Jute.
In order to go for diversified jute based products, policy support with right incentives are required. Diversified jute based products will not only revive the past glory of our jute industry but increase the exportable product base of Bangladesh, which currently is meager. Policy support for domestic small pulp and paper producing industries, especially those based on green jute is necessary.
The demand for paper and paper products is increasing with the economic growth of Bangladesh. Today, we import about 250,000 tonnes of paper and paperboard annually, which are worth about US $300 million.
Extensive research by scientists from various institutions at the pulp and paper mills in several countries have shown that bio-pulping technology for pulp and paper is more suited to jute than other mechanisms. There are debates whether mechanical or chemical pulping would be suitable. Whole jute has been successfully tried as raw material for pulp and paper in Bangladesh as well as in China, India, Thailand and USA. Recent studies have also concluded that Bangladesh can setup mills to produce high quality pulp from green jute, which can meet its entire demand for making paper and also leave surplus for export.
A fast expanding pulp and paper market at home and abroad will make the future of jute brighter and will also benefit the economy by saving the foreign exchange spent on imports. A series of research have been conducted on development of technology for using whole green jute / kenaf plants as raw materials for production of pulp for paper, which will intended reduce consumption of chemicals through introduction of eco-friendly production process, reduce energy cost and cost of business.
Jute genome sequencing will be helpful to ensure better storage, reduce wastage and increase production of green jute for ensuring uninterrupted supply as raw materials for industries like one producing pulp for paper.
The writer is Additional Secretary (R&P), DCCI. She can be reached at E-mail:
nothing_man2000@yahoo.com
Recent innovation of jute genome sequencing has made people optimistic about revival of the past glory of jute. Jute genome decoding project has advanced us one stage ahead. The success of the project has opened a new window of RB-NRB (resident Bangladeshis and non-resident Bangladeshis) collaboration. We always blame ourselves that we are poor in manpower resources. Actually it is not, if we consider our NRB resources.
Jute is the second most important natural fibre next to cotton. It occupies a very significant place in the national economy of Bangladesh. It is the sector where a substantial number of players including farmers, traders, input suppliers, exporters both at private and public sector are involved. Bangladesh is the largest exporters of raw jute and jute goods in the world market which meets 95% world demand of raw jute and 60% of jute goods. Full exploitation of this hidden resources once called as the Golden Fibre of Bangladesh can be rejuvenated with this new innovation.
The sector contributed 4% to GDP in 2007-08. It engages a large number of industrial labours, which is next to RMG sector. People are getting more environmentally conscious now. So use of jute as a biodegradable product has immense potentials. Markets of jute are expanding and demand for diversified jute based products are greater than ever.
Raw Jute export from India is almost zero. Whereas, of Bangladesh's jute export worth $504.35 million, raw jute fetched about US$ 134.89 million and jute goods US $ 369.46 million in 2008-09. In terms of value addition Jute is hundred percent value added product. If we take a concerted efforts export of jute can be increased up to the level of RMG.
Bangladesh requires 80/100 man days, whereas India requires 31-55 man days for jute production. India provides export subsidies for Hessian (20%), Yarn(15%), Sackings(20%), JDP(25%). India established a Jute Technology Bank, which is absent in Bangladesh. India is providing huge subsidy, whereas in Bangladesh whatever subsidy the government is providing is meant for the large entrepreneurs and not for the small one. A recent policy of making mandatory use of jute packaging is another positive step, which can do a lot for this sector. Now we need to increases its production.
Future plan of India in developing jute sector is clearly specified. Bangladesh also needs a clear jute sector-mapping plan.
A seminar on eco-friendly pulp and paper processing from jute was organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) early this year. One of the key objectives of the seminar was to set a joint-strategy involving both public and private to optimise use of jute for producing more value-added products, reduce import dependence of quality paper and pulp and help establish an eco-friendly quality and cost-effective business sector for producing pulp and paper. The new Industrial Policy is going to be announced soon wherein jute has been given priority. DCCI is willing to go ahead to do more on jute sector for diversification of its use.
It was not long ago when Bangladesh's foremost foreign exchange earner was jute. However unfortunate but true, over time, traditional usage of jute declined drastically due to the emergence of synthetic fibers.
We have opportunity to make best use of jute through using green jute for pulp and paper.as jute has the potential to contribute substantially to our economy and to the economic development by creating massive rural employment, alleviating poverty, and of course, protecting the climate. Bangladesh and jute are intertwined with each other. Therefore, we need to create the revival of jute through innovation and diversification, we would like to see the diversified use of jute particularly pulp and paper making, as we feel that Bangladesh has the potential to become a major pulp and paper producer from green jute in the global arena.
Green jute based pulp and paper making will help save forests from Brazil to Bangladesh. Bangladesh being one of the densely populated countries has only 9% forest. Whereas, it needs to have at least 25% area covered by forest. The climate fund created in the recently held "Copenhagen Summit" can be used in funding new entrepreneurs to setup paper mills based on green jute. Bangladesh produces 33% of the total raw jute of world and exports approx. 94% as raw Jute.
In order to go for diversified jute based products, policy support with right incentives are required. Diversified jute based products will not only revive the past glory of our jute industry but increase the exportable product base of Bangladesh, which currently is meager. Policy support for domestic small pulp and paper producing industries, especially those based on green jute is necessary.
The demand for paper and paper products is increasing with the economic growth of Bangladesh. Today, we import about 250,000 tonnes of paper and paperboard annually, which are worth about US $300 million.
Extensive research by scientists from various institutions at the pulp and paper mills in several countries have shown that bio-pulping technology for pulp and paper is more suited to jute than other mechanisms. There are debates whether mechanical or chemical pulping would be suitable. Whole jute has been successfully tried as raw material for pulp and paper in Bangladesh as well as in China, India, Thailand and USA. Recent studies have also concluded that Bangladesh can setup mills to produce high quality pulp from green jute, which can meet its entire demand for making paper and also leave surplus for export.
A fast expanding pulp and paper market at home and abroad will make the future of jute brighter and will also benefit the economy by saving the foreign exchange spent on imports. A series of research have been conducted on development of technology for using whole green jute / kenaf plants as raw materials for production of pulp for paper, which will intended reduce consumption of chemicals through introduction of eco-friendly production process, reduce energy cost and cost of business.
Jute genome sequencing will be helpful to ensure better storage, reduce wastage and increase production of green jute for ensuring uninterrupted supply as raw materials for industries like one producing pulp for paper.
The writer is Additional Secretary (R&P), DCCI. She can be reached at E-mail:
nothing_man2000@yahoo.com