Eco-Friendly Jute Likely To Find New Applications

Jute is no longer the low-value industrial fibre used only to manufacture coarse fabrics for packaging. Today it can be defined as an eco-friendly natural fibre with versatile application prospects ranging from low-value geo-textile to high-value items like carpet, apparel and composites. This was stated by K V Raghunatha Reddy, governor, West Bengal.

He was addressing the international seminar on 'Jute and allied fibres: Changing global scenario' organised by National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology (Nirjaft) and ICAR, Calcutta in association with Indian Fibre Society, Mumbai.

Reddy said, "It is heartening to note that through the combined efforts of various international and national institutions considerable progress has been achieved and new potentials have been identified which need to be pursued by further research and development work."

 

At present a varied section of entrepreneurial community has taken up manufacturing in a wide range of jute diversified products, he added.

K M Rabbani, executive director, International Jute Organisation (IJO), Bangladesh, said the strength of jute lies in the fact that from the very stage of farming it is eco-friendly as it absorbs carbon dioxide. Awareness for usage of jute is increasing day by day as it is one of the cheapest lignocellulosic fibres.

Same theory was emphasised by R S Paroda, director general, ICAR. According to him, trends in production of jute products indicate about 250 per cent increase in monetary value of the products marketed in the period 1992-93 to 1994-95 and hence vast scope for growth of this industry in years to come.

According to him, research programmes undertaken in jute technology are basically multi-disciplinary and industry-oriented in nature. The linkages between jute and allied fibres-based institutes and the industry should be strengthened for commercialisation of technologies. ICAR will give emphasis on value addition, diversification, and export orientation by adopting multi-dimensional matrix mode research programme approach.

In his view, formulation of a national jute policy involving agriculture, research and development institutions, industry and trade will go a long way in achieving sustainability of these natural fibre crops with a cutting edge over synthetic fibres.

Addressing the seminar, B C Mitra, director, Nirjaft, said biodegradable packaging material is raising its demand in European and American market because of problem in municipal solid waste disposal.

Natural fibre with biodegradable matrix resin might be an answer for which research is being undertaken.

"It would thus enhance the value of agro-based fibres and open up a new market for such natural agrofibres in the years to come," he said.