Agri Ministry, BJRI Project on Jute
Target high yield, calamity resistant variety
Inspired by the genome sequencing of Jute in Bangladesh, the government has undertaken a project to develop natural adversity tolerant variety of jute as well as developing its high yielding line and variety.
The project titled "Basic and applied research on jute" was approved at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting on Tuesday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The total cost of the project was estimated at Tk 66 crore to be entirely borne by the national exchequer.
Agriculture ministry is the leading agency while Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) is the implementing agency of the project.
The tenure of the project is from September 2010 to August 2013.
According to planning ministry sources, the project activities also include updating the draft genome information of Tosha variety of jute and utilising necessary genes to innovate a variety capable to adapt with changing environment.
It also includes innovation and analysis of genome sequence of local variety to access necessary genes and innovate sequence information of different molecules relating to rotting of jute.
The project objectives also include evaluating the germplasms of jute preserved at the gene bank of BJRI to separate necessary genes and to create a platform for research on genome in Bangladesh.
Sources at Ecnec meeting said prime minister thanked the agriculture ministry and the planning commission to process such an important project speedily.
She also directed the authorities concerned to maintain the secrecy of the project's research activities.
It was learnt that two committees, project steering committee and project implementation committee, have been formed for the projects successful implementation.
Agriculture secretary heads the 13-member steering committee while director general of BJRI heads the nine-member implementation committee.
On completion of the project, the farmers would be able to produce jute with less cost as well as profit much more which is expected to create more employment opportunities, said sources at planning ministry.
The project area covers the main office of BJRI in city's Tejgaon, Manikganj sadar and Rangpur sadar.
Bangladeshi researchers led by Dr Maqsudul Alam have successfully decoded the jute plant genome in June, opening up a new vista in developing the world's most adorned biodegradable natural fibre.
With the successful sequencing of jute genome, Bangladesh becomes only the second country after Malaysia, among the developing nations, to achieve such a feat.
Researchers from Dhaka University, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute and Software Company DataSoft in collaboration with Centre for Chemical Biology, University of Science, Malaysia and University of Hawaii, USA have decoded the genome.
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