Jute in South Asia A Presentation By REZAUR RAHMAN Former Senior Officer (IJO) Former Additional Secretary Government of Bangladesh
Jute: The Gift of Nature
Jute- a product of South Asia More than 98% of total world production of jute is grown in three South Asian countries namely; India Bangladesh and Nepal
World production of Jute (average of 4 years 2001/2-2004/05) 2004/05) in thousand tons World India Bangladesh Nepal Total Ind, BD, Nepal 100% 62.19% 35.4% 0.61% 98.2% 2465 1533 872.75 16.83 2423
Jute Plants Kenaf Plants Jute Fibre Jute Sticks
Jute cultivation is arduous job Stages of processing Land preparation Sowing Weeding Harvesting Extracting of fibre Washing & cleaning Drying Takes 120 days to complete processing
Sowing Weeding harvesting Retting
Women Extracting fibre from retted jute plant Professional way of extraction & washing
Drying Transportation To Market
Jute products and their uses Jute is a versatile fibre It can be used independently and in blends with other fibres and materials such as plastic Major manufactured products from jute are: Yarn & Twine Sacking Hessian cloth and Diversified jute goods
Jute Goods Manufacturing Activities
Jute Yarn Jute Twine Jute Sacks Hessian Cloth
Road Construction Vegetation Erosion Control Geo-Jute applications
Diversified Jute Products Array of non-traditional goods produced by transforming jute to numerous value-added products through innovations and applications of artistic skills.
Jute blended home textile materials
Blended Jute Fabrics
Jute Bags
Jute mats and floor coverings
Shoes & Sandals
Decorative table mats
Pulp and Papers
Jewellery
Jute reinforced Plastic Chairs Jute non-woven used in automobile body parts
DJPs account for hardly 10% of total jute fibre consumption. DJPs are SMEs and decentralised Entrepreneurs lack resource, expertise and market access UNDP and CFC s s support to DJPs recalled More needs to be done
Benefits of Jute & Jute Goods Young tender leaves of jute plants are dietary supplements Jute cultivation improves soil fertility Green jute plants provide oxygen to atmosphere Bio-degradable and re-usable No harmful chemicals in production process breathable fibre, safe for storage, easy to handle Geo-jute useful substitute of synthetic geo-textile
Socio-Economic Importance & Implications Cultivation of jute- a matter of culture A cash crop for millions of marginal farm families Tens and thousands of people are engaged in jute related jobs Earnings from jute act as food security- help reduce poverty and hunger
Jute Sector of South Asia at a Glance Average of recent 4 years SL Item India Bangladesh Nepal Pakistan 1 Area 900,000 ha 450,000 ha 12000 ha 0 2 Raw jute production 1,533,000 MT 872,750 MT 16, 830 MT 0 3 Jute Mills 77 145 7 10 4 Farmers/workers involved 4.6 million 2.5 million 50,000 20,000 5 Jute goods production 1,600,000 MT 500,000 MT 16,000 MT 129,000 MT 6 Jute Goods Export 286,000 MT 450,000 MT 10,000 MT 13,500 MT 7 Raw jute Export 0 400,000 MT - - 8 Internal consumption 82% 18% 37% 75% 9 Export Earning US$ 270m US$400m US $ 10m US$ 14m Compiled from statistical bulletins of FAO and concerned agencies es of jute producing countries.
Socio- Economic Importance & Implications (contd( contd) Jute had its golden days until 1980s. It was world s principal packaging material for agricultural and industrial produces. Jute lost its glory and market share to synthetic alternatives as it failed to keep pace with fast moving technological changes in the packaging sector Consequences: Bangladesh Scenario Reduction of acreage of jute cultivation- 50% Reduction of production of jute fibre- 41% Reduction of production of jute goods- 20% only on account of phenomenal increase of jute yarn and twines productions Colossal loss- huge indebtedness to Banks and others Closure of jute mills- loss of jobs, social unrest
Declining Trend of Bangladesh Jute Sector 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1220 890 863 917 719 642 601 591 531 445 448 484 1970/71 1980/81 1990/91 2000/01 Area Of Cultivation 000 ha Fibre Production 000 tonnes Jute Goods Production 000 tonnes
ARR1 Socio- Economic Importance & Implications (contd( contd) No investment for technology development except some innovations in respect of diversified uses of jute. The innovations have also not been harnessed properly for lack of support for commercialisation Jute s s image remains regional
Conclusion Jute is an important commodity for employment and source of income of millions of people. Jute is still a preferred packaging material on account of its bio-degradable eco-friendly characteristics. Jute deserves international support as a natural corollary to United Nations Sustainable Development Programme and Millennium Development Goals for socio-economic development, protection of environment and reduction of poverty.
Recommendations Member countries of the UN system may be encouraged to: to adopt policies to use more jute products instead of synthetics s in packaging cereal commodities in particular. Use jute shopping bags instead of polythene bags in the super markets and shopping outlets worldwide. Use geo-jute instead of synthetic materials for construction of roads and pavements, soil saving and erosion control activities. Use jute for production of pulp and paper and That the stakeholders of all natural fibres have coordination and understanding for better utilisation of the natural fibres for the t humanity in liaison with each other.
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