Golden Opportunities of the Golden Fiber

Farzana Alam Piya,

Research Assistant, Textile Focus

Jute, the golden fiber of Bangladesh, can be a source of golden opportunities for the country’s economy. Consisting of cellulose and lignin, Jute is a natural bast fiber. Being the most affordable natural fiber only after cotton, it has length around 1–4 meter with a good spin-able character. Due to its color (off-white to brown) and high cash value, Jute is known as the Golden Fiber and also considered as fiber of the future.

Types of Jute

White Raw Jute (Corchorus capsularis) : White raw jute is the most commonly produced & used jute type. It is also known as “Bangla White Jute” due to its whitish color. This type of jute is highly used, from ancient times, for making ropes and twines for household works & other purposes. This type of jute is graded as Bangla White A, B, C, D and E.

Tossa Raw Jute (Corchorus olitorius) : Tossa Jute is another type of jute fiber which is also known as Dark Jute due to its Golden-Brown color. This jute type is softer, silkier and stronger than white jute. Due to its extra strength, it is used for producing various types of bags & sacks. Bangladesh is the largest global producer of this jute. It is also graded as A, B, C, D and E.

Mesta Raw Jute : Mesta Jute is a blend of Mesta plant and Raw White Jute. From 1947, Mesta has become a part of jute production as it is capable of growing in those areas where the climate is not suitable for producing neither Raw White Jute nor Tossa Jute. Mesta Jute is graded differently than Raw White Jute & Tossa Raw Jute. The grades are Mesta Top, Mesta Mid and Mesta Bottom.

Jute Cuttings : Jute Cuttings, considered as the lowest grade of jute, is the leftover of various grades of jute or a mixture of leftovers. As a result, it has lower strength. This jute is used for making bags, ropes, paper products or other goods. White Raw Jute cuttings and Tossa Raw Jute cuttings, both are graded in Grade A and Grade B.

What Makes Jute the “Golden Fiber” ?

The golden color (whitish golden & brownish golden) and other extra ordinary properties of jute fiber, make it apart from other fibers. And so it is known as the “Golden Fiber” also the “Fiber of Future”.

The Golden Fibre Facts

Jute Products

Jute Yarn : Jute yarn is the 1^st product manufactured from jute fiber. There are various types of jute yarn such as CB, CRM, CRT, CRX, HESSIAN, SACKING, Fuse Yarn, Coated Yarn etc. And the count of yarn generally ranges from 8lbs to 52lbs. It is used in weaving, knitting and also manufacturing other jute products.
Jute Yarn & Jute Twine

Jute Twine : Jute twine is composed of two or more smaller strands or jute yarns twisted together. It is a light string or strong thread that is 100% biodegradable and pollution free. It is used as natural packaging material.

Versatile Jute Products

Sandal made of Jute

Market Scenarios of Jute

Bangladesh has 205 jute mills in total, where 81 mills are owned by BJSA (Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association), 97 mills are owned by BJMA (Bangladesh Jute Mills Association) and 27 mills are owned by BJMC (Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation).
Bangladesh is the 2nd largest global source of jute, producing around 1.4 Million tones jute annually. Other leading jute producing countries are India, China, Uzbekistan and Nepal.

According to the reports of BJMC, Bangladesh produces 61 Lac bales (1.09 Million Ton) raw jute, where internal consumption is 38 Lac bales (0.68 Million Ton) and 21.00 Lac bales (0.37 Million Ton) raw jute is exported which values 1000 Cr. Tk. (on average).
BJMC reports also say, Bangladesh produces 6, 63, 000 TONS Jute goods where 89,000 M. TONS goods are consumed by internal market and 5, 35, 878 M. TONS jute goods are exported which values 3139 Cr. Tk. (on average).

Day by day, world is turning towards sustainability and so global demand for bio-degradable & recyclable fiber is increasing. As jute can be blended with both natural & synthetic fibers, it holds the top position in the list.
Every moment, new innovations are taking place around the world with this golden fiber.
Considering domestic and international market demand of jute, on 6th October 2020, the Government of Bangladesh has declared 282 jute products as diversified items including bags for gardening, travelling, official use, bed sheet, curtain, blanket, sofa, pillow covers, cushion covers, shoe, fashion garment, saree and denim. According to the Jute Law-2017, any product, except traditional hessian, sacking, CBC, six counts or more than that jute yarn, where jute has been used at least 50% as raw material, will be categorized as diversified items.
Around 700 entrepreneurs around the country are producing various eye-catching versatile jute products and most of that are being exported.

Things to Be Done

After Ready Made Garments, Jute can be a strong support for the country’s economy among the textile sectors.
At present jute cultivation is taking place in around 12.35 Lac acres involving 15 million farmers. It is high time to increase the production of the cash crop. For that, Government & other related authorities should come forward & take necessary steps such as inspiring farmers to involve them in jute cultivation, arranging training program for them about jute cultivation, ensuring bank loan & other necessary kits for jute farmers etc.
Besides increasing the production of jute, the jute mills need to be maintained properly, taking the best care of the machineries and the workers (ensuring appropriate salary & other facilities).
To increase the versatility & the quality of jute products, more research work & project works need to be done.
To encourage the entrepreneurs for working with the golden fiber of Bangladesh, business friendly environment need to be created by the Government, Bank authorities and other supporting bodies.