For jute to make a comeback, govt must walk the talk

Though the government at different times said that it would bring back the glory of jute, the ground reality is jute and the jute industry is not showing any prospect of return. Far from it, farmers are losing whatever interest is left with them to grow the golden fiber which was once the main cash crop of Bangladesh. Neglect to this agricultural product as well as increasing popularity of products of synthetic materials has made jute an unimportant crop for the farmers in Bangladesh.

Against this backdrop of neglect to jute, the Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi recently again said that strict legal measures will be taken to ensure proper use of jute bags for 19 products under the government’s “Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010” which was enforced in January 2014, to promote the country’s jute sector. According to the act, all commodities must be packaged in bags made of jute and violators of this Act would face punishment of a maximum of one year in jail or a fine of Tk 50,000 or both for using non-biodegradable synthetics for packaging.

But since there is no proper implementation of the Act, use of jute is not being increased in the country, which can increase the interest of the farmers in growing jute. There are, however, other reasons for which farmers do not cultivate jute. Firstly, they do not get seeds of quality jute, and in time–time is very important in cultivating jute. Still, farmers also complain about availability of water for retting of jute as water bodies such as nearby ponds are vanishing very fast. Moreover, they do not get the desired return in terms of money from their produce.

Therefore, if the government does the needful by providing quality seeds to farmers in appropriate time and other necessary inputs to farmers and creating demand for jute in the market by increasing its use, we do not think why jute would not see a comeback.
From the textile and jute minister we come to know that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared jute as the “product of the year 2023”. But it is easier said than done. Mere announcements cannot alter the reality if proper steps are not taken. We cannot stop the demand for plastic and synthetic things, but there is also a global demand for eco-friendly jute and jute products which Bangladesh can positively explore.