Jute farmers, millers, researchers and experts of the jute sectors at a workshop on Monday called for increasing local consumption of jute through immediate implementation of jute packaging act to create its demand at home and abroad.
They also emphasised on ensuring fair price of jute among growers to help increase the production of jute in the country.
The participants at the workshop expressed their dismay for not implementing the mandatory jute packaging act although it was enacted three years ago by the parliament.
The experts related to jute sectors made their observation at the workshop on ‘Revisit the Roadmap for Jute’ at the secretariat of International Jute Study Group.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, chairman of jute commission, attended the workshop as chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Kholiquzzaman said better technology should be adopted to increase productivity in the agriculture sector including jute. He emphasised on diversification of jute products to catch the global market.
Fair price of jute should be ensured to encourage the growers to produce jute in large scale, he said.
Kamran T Rahman, former chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, said although millions of people are involved in producing jute and in jute industries, the government has failed to increase its domestic consumption.
Neighboring India started mandatory use of jute since 1987. Though Bangladesh enacted the mandatory jute packaging act in 2010, the law is not being implemented till now, he said.
Fazlul Haque Hannan, president of jute and vegetables growers’ association, said if the farmers were given seeds timely and ensured fair prices of jute, they would be happy to cultivate jute—the golden fibre of the country.
Humayun Khalid, chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, said demand of jute goods has been increasing day by day, so time has come to do something for developing the jute sector.
He urged all concerned to play a positive role to develop the jute sector.
The BJMC chairman assured of all-out cooperation to arrange the training necessary to strengthen the sector.
Although jute is called an environment friendly crop having tremendous prospect, use of jute goods are not seen everywhere in Bangladesh, said Kamal Uddin, director general of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute said.
Jute can be used in place of cotton, he said, adding that farmers are being motivated to produce jute and quality jute seeds to meet domestic demands.
Jahangir Alam, former director general of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, said if farmers get fair price of jute, they would increase the production of jute.
IJSG secretary general Bhupendra Sing presented a technical paper at the workshop.
-With New Age input
