Golden fibre
Din M Shibly / Driknews
I strongly believe that there is ample scope for reviving the past glory of our golden fibre the Jute. What is needed is a pragmatic action plan plus strengthening the research and extension activities of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI). On the 18th June last, I attended the meeting of the Agricultural Research Committee (ARC) of BJRI as one of the ARC members. In the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of ARC and DG, BJRI in his opening address told that quality jute seed was the main factor of fibre production. He informed that Bangladesh needs about 4,000 tons of jute seed per year of which BADC and other agencies supply only 10-12%. Rest of the jute seeds are being made available to the farmers from other sources. There is the scarcity of jute seeds which need to be met up. The BJRI has so far evolved a number of jute varieties, the latest are BJC-2142 (white jute) and O-795 (tossa jute). These two varieties have already been released by the National Seed Board (NSB) for commercial cultivation. Meanwhile, it has been observed that due to the lack of effective extension service, the BJRI is constrained to spread its huge improved jute production technologies including improved jute varieties developed by BJRI to the farmers. As a result, expected production of jute is hampered. Since the govt. Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has their own extension tasks, the jute farmers are being deprived of getting proper extension intervention and knowledge support. So, it was resolved unanimously in the ARC meeting that the BJRI should have an Agricultural Extension service of its own to make jute cultivation technologies evolved by BJRI quickly and effectively available to the door steps of the jute growers. Hence it is expected that the higher authorities will take immediate steps to create an Agricultural Extension Wing or Division at BJRI.
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