Lesson 2/55 min
Jute: the golden fibre
Jute at a glance
- Bangladesh's main cash crop; the “golden fibre”
- Jute and jute goods are among the leading exports
- Suitable soil: loam; the jute belt is Mymensingh-Dhaka-Cumilla
- Faridpur district grows the most jute
- Central agricultural testing station for jute: Manikganj
- Two main jute industrial areas: Khulna and Narayanganj
- Narayanganj is the main jute trade centre, called the “Dundee of the East” (Dundee is in Scotland)
- Improved jute seed: Tosha
Watch out: All sources agree that Bangladesh leads the world in jute exports. The books disagree on the top producer: Khandokar says Bangladesh has overtaken India, Zubair says India is first. FAO-based sources usually rank India first and Bangladesh second, so check the latest data before memorising this.
Research and institutions
- Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI): founded 1951; Manik Mia Avenue (Sher-e-Bangla Nagar), Dhaka
- Ribbon retting: developed by BJRI for areas short of water to rot jute
- National Jute Policy: made in 2016
- National Jute Day: 6 March; first observed in 2017
- 49 high-yielding jute varieties so far: Tosha 17, Deshi 25, Kenaf 4, Mesta 3
- Variety names: BJRI Tosha-4, Deshi-5, Deshi-6, Kenaf-3
Inventions and inventors
| What | Who |
|---|---|
| “Sonali bag” from jute | Dr. Mobarak Ahmed Khan |
| Jutin (jute-and-yarn/cotton cloth, 70 : 30) | Dr. Mohammad Siddiqullah |
| Unlocking jute's life code (genome), 2010 | Dr. Maqsudul Alam |
Adamjee Jute Mills
- Located in Narayanganj; founded 1951
- Once the biggest jute mill in Asia (Zubair: in the world)
- Closed on 30 June 2002
More facts
- Jute packaging is compulsory for transporting 19 products
- Efforts are under way to make jute-based “polythene” (biodegradable bags)
- A bale of raw jute is counted as 4.5 maunds (12th BCS answer)
- Bangladesh claims success in making green/organic tea from jute leaves
Did you know?: 1 bale = 182.25 kg and 1 maund = 37.32 kg, which works out to about 4.88 maunds. The books and the BCS answer still use 4.50 maunds.
Check yourself
When did Adamjee Jute Mills close?
At a glance
- 1
Jute is Bangladesh's main cash crop; Faridpur grows the most.
- 2
BJRI was founded in 1951 in Dhaka; National Jute Day is 6 March (first observed in 2017).
- 3
Sonali bag: Dr. Mobarak Ahmed Khan; Jutin: Dr. Mohammad Siddiqullah; jute genome: Dr. Maqsudul Alam.
- 4
Adamjee Jute Mills is in Narayanganj; founded 1951, closed 30 June 2002.
- 5
Narayanganj is the “Dundee of the East”; Bangladesh leads the world in jute exports.