Incentives to help revitalise jute sector

We welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s announcement that the jute sector ought to get incentives like the RMG sector. While addressing a programme marking National Textile Day the prime minister compared the golden fibre favourably with the RMG sector, the country’s biggest forex earner, She expressed her concern regarding the fact that even though jute is environment friendly it is yet to get the attention it deserves.

However, she also struck a positive note and said that she had already given directives to the authorities concerned to provide adequate incentives to the once-thriving industry. The government's recent decision to disburse incentives for jute production is laudable. In a bid to rehabilitate jute cultivation, the government will provide 400,000 farmers with one kilogram of jute seeds each, in exchange for dedicating one bigha of land to grow jute.

The RMG sector has contributed a great deal towards the growth of the national economy. There is no reason why jute can’t follow suit. The Jute sector can also play a vital role in poverty alleviation. The Agriculture Ministry and the Department of Agriculture Extension and BJMC can play vital roles in this regard. Of course mere rhetoric will not do; what is needed is concrete action. Building up public awareness for increasing the use of jute bags and other jute products can help achieve the desired goal.

We have stressed in this column that unless the problems of the cultivators are addressed it would be a herculean task to provide a fillip to the sector. There was a time, until not too long ago when jute would hold out immense possibilities for farmers of the country. As time rolled on, demand for jute and jute products began to fall pouring cold water into the enthusiasm of the growers.

The situation became so precarious that farmers failed to get back even the production cost of jute. Abysmally frustrated, many growers stopped cultivating jute and turned to the cultivation of other crops. The widespread use of polythene bags and other plastic products contributed to the appalling condition of jute and jute products. Considering the dismal plight of farmers and salvaging the jute industry from the dire strait the government from time to time took some apparently pragmatic measures.

The Ban on the production and use of polythene bags was supposed to put a brake on the invasion of these bags. Unfortunately, though, the ban on polythene bags has proven to be totally ineffective. Also, the use of jute bags and jute products which is environment-friendly is yet to be introduced in a major way.

There is no alternative to ensuring a fair price of jute for the benefit of the growers. The use of jute bags for certain products was made mandatory. However, the mandatory use of jute bags for packaging 19 products is being ignored due to the lax implementation of existing law. We urge the authorities concerned to be strict in the implementation of the relevant law.

It is disturbing to note that many state-owned jute mills were shut down rendering thousands of workers unemployed. The lost glory of jute must be revived for the benefit of the farmers and in the interest of the national economy. Farmers should be provided with quality seeds and easy-term bank loan for buying agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and pesticides for boosting jute production. If fair price is ensured growers will not turn away from jute cultivation.

We want to emphasise that the proper execution of the government policy relating to the jute sector brooks no delay.