With the huge turnout of visitors at the ongoing Jute fair, jute product manufacturers see a bright prospect in the days ahead.
T he participants and the visitors who attended the fair of diversified jute products organised by Jute Diversification Promotion Center (JDPC) at Bangladesh Shishu Academy premises expressed high hope of restoring lost glory of the 'golden fibre'.
"I could never think that jute can make so many diversified products," said Munira Mahuwala, a schoolteacher, who came to visit the fair with her child yesterday.
A lot of visitors were seen crowding the stall of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA). "It is because the stall has a wide array of products, especially for the children and the women. These are also very fashionable," said Rokshana Khandaker, a housewife.
The stall showcases wall hangings, floor-mat, purse, puppets, bags, table runners, jewelry bags and many more products.
The YWCA launched its Jute
diversification operation in 1973 with foreign assistance and is presently self-reliant in its finances. It sells its products both at local and international markets, said YWCA staff Grace Rekha Ritchil.
Rolok Bangla makes hassien nursery bags with jute which is primarily sold to the department of forest for its use In growing plants and has a huge prospect both in local and international market, said its marketing manager Monir Hossain Patwary.
"A survey by the organisation revealed that Bangladesh needs more than 5 hundred crore such bags in all the nurseries every year," he added, "but the use of plastic bags must bestopped for thatend."
Bangladesh Tea Research Institute in a survey suggested that these jute-made nursery bags help the saplings grow fast and have no harmful effect on the plants, Monirul also said.
Rokeya Handicrafts, Eastern Polo, Hand Touch, Human and Environment Development Association, Probaha Mohila Unnyan Sangstha, Creative Handicrafts put jute products of
various types and designs on display. More than 50 manufacturing companies with their products and machinery attended the fair.
Briefcases, seminar files, schoolbags, purses, cradle, sarce boxes, wine bags, dolls and many more products are put on display in the exhibition that is scheduled to end today.
Many of the participants said they produce these products mainly to export as they earn more than what they do in local market But they believe that local market can also expand if government takes more initiatives for its publicity and people become more aware of the benefits of natural products instead of plastic, polythene and synthetic ones.
They also mentioned some problems hindering the promotion of diversified jute products. "Jute is best cultivated in the country, but we do not utilize it here, rather the yarn mills export all the yarn," said Fokrul Alam Tofail, designer of Bengal Jute Products.
The fluctuation of jute prices also hamper the manufacturers, he suggested. The government should allocate some places for marketing
jute and formulate strategy to stablise its price at least for 5 to 10 years, he added.
Besides, the government should make arrangements to help the jute growers to produce better crops, and, if needed, give subsidy to revive its lost glory, said the organizers.
A number of stalls that manufacture satranji, a traditional floor mat. also participated in the fair with their products. "Satranji still has a huge demand in the local market, but fund constraint and lack of quality dying hinder our production," said Alamgir Libul of Satranji, a Rangpur-based jute mill.
JDPC Executive Director ABM Abdullah, expressing his satisfaction over the visitors' gathering and enthusiasm about the exhibition, said, "We have primarily succeeded in our mission. Visitors' interest and demand are really optimistic."
However, he said the entrepreneurs and the economists at a seminar on design and marketing diversification on Thursday suggested higher training in this sector to expand the demand and market of jute products.