Across the southern part of Cumilla, there was once great enthusiasm among the people for cultivating jute – known as the ‘golden fiber’ – and using jute packaging. For various reasons, however, there is hardly any interest left. The concerned departments seem to be playing the role of silent spectators in this matter.
This year, 11 individuals and institutions were awarded and many received souvenirs on Jute Day for their contributions to the development and growth of the jute industry. Especially, there is no alternative to research activities for the development of the jute sector, reducing dependence on imported jute seeds, achieving self-sufficiency in domestic jute seed production, and increasing the production of conventional and diversified jute products.
Multiple local sources report that although there is demand and high price for raw jute through various channels in the district, it is only natural that jute farmers will lose interest in cultivation if they do not receive fair value. Jute cultivation involves various risks and complexities in sales.
At one time, jute farming, manufacturing of jute products, and the business and trade of jute and jute goods played a vital role in the livelihood of a class of people in this region. But in this era of modern technology, jute cultivation has almost disappeared. From the time before the 1952 language movement up until 1977, jute cultivation and raw jute trade were the sole source of income for people of all classes and professions in this region. Fields full of jute plants were a common sight. After independence, there was significant competition in the international jute market.
There was considerable demand for raw jute processing by jute exporting organizations, BJMC, BGMEA-run jute mills, and privately established jute and textile mills. However, as those jute mills started closing one by one for various reasons, demand for jute and export to the international market fell, leading to the collapse of jute cultivation in this region. Consequently, farmers lost interest in sowing jute. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of the environment has come up anew in discussions across the country, resulting in a renewed demand for jute products, which is increasing enthusiasm among farmers for jute cultivation in the upcoming monsoon season. If this jute industry operates in full swing, it will further strengthen the country’s economy.
Sources also report that the rural culture and traditions of the Bengali nation are intertwined with the golden fiber sector, and local economists believe that jute’s role as a tool of economic liberation is a recognized history. The jute sector is playing a leading role in the country’s industrial areas, employment, and export trade.
Though the government enacted the Mandatory Packaging in Jute Products Act, 2010 to accelerate the advancement and modernization of the jute industry involving several crore people, it has yet to see the light of day locally. The government has provided gratuity, provident fund, encashment of leave, and golden handshake facilities to all workers employed in 25 jute mills through retrenchment and is undertaking multifaceted efforts to increase the production and use of jute products and packaging. Currently, the contribution of jute in all sectors has become negligible. Especially in the country’s export trade, demand for jute has dropped from 90% to 3%. In this region, all rice mills now use rexine sacks instead of jute sacks, which are banned by the government. Due to lack of monitoring by the administration, a section of identified traders continue this illegal business.
According to multiple sources including local environmentalists and farmers, most jute farmers, like paddy farmers, are small and marginal. Just as small and marginal paddy farmers in this region, to repay debts and meet family needs, are forced to sell at low prices to rice mill owners and business syndicates at the beginning of the Aman harvest season, similarly, jute farmers also sell their jute at the start of the season to meet family needs.
The renowned commercial town of this region, Laksam Daulatganj Bazar, as well as major markets across the southern part of the district, used to be bustling with jute warehouses and jute traders. But such scenes are no longer seen. On the other hand, although the government has banned the use of polythene and plastic bags and made the use of jute packaging mandatory for multiple products, the business syndicates do not comply. In this regard, local administration or concerned departments’ mobile courts seem to be silent spectators for mysterious reasons.
