Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Mar 09, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Jute 2009 is for natural fibre Our Bureau
Kolkata , March 8 Based on a recommendation made by the International Jute Study Group (IJSG), the Rome-based Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has proposed that 2009 would be the International Year for Natural Fibre. The FAO proposal has been forwarded to the United Nations for approval in the UN General Assembly scheduled for September. The Dhaka-based IJSG feels that this move would boost the falling fortunes of the global jute industry. Jute is the biggest natural fibre in the world. The second is kenaf, which is similar to jute.
Waiting for UN approval
"If the UN accepts the FAO proposal then we would chalk out a series of programmes for promoting jute in that year in all parts of the world. Several suggestions are coming but we are waiting for the formal approval by the UN," Mr AFM Sarwar Kamal, Secretary-General of IJSG, told reporters. He was in the city along with other members of IJSG to participate in the 5th meeting of the Private Sector Consultative Board, an organisation created within the aegis of the IJSG.
PAPER FROM JUTE pulp
Talking to reporters, Mr Kamal said the group is taking several steps to promote the consumption of jute in the global market and jute pulp as a replacement to wood pulp for the production of paper has tremendous potential. According to him, technology has been developed for producing paper at a cheaper rate from jute pulp as against wood pulp. Moreover, retting (the procedure that separates jute fibre from the stem) is not needed as the total plant is consumed for producing jute pulp.
Storage concerns
"Availability of jute throughout the year in an ideal condition is a problem. Moreover, jute production is also falling. Its storage is another concern area," Mr Kamal said. In this context he added that a Chinese firm has developed a technology for storing jute. Talking about future business prospects, he said, Japan is interested in replacing its total wood pulp requirement with jute pulp. At present, Japan is importing approximately $400 million worth of wood pulp each year. "A couple of leading Japanese firms, including Mitsui & Co, has expressed interest in setting up jute pulp producing plants in India and Bangladesh along with a local partner," he said. IJSG has asked both India and Bangladesh to study the potential of jute pulp production in their respective countries. According to Mr Kamal, Bangladesh has already initiated activities on this front.
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