The target area for jute cultivation in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year is 7.05 lakh hectares. 5000-6000 tons of jute seeds are required for cultivation in that land.
The speakers made these statements today at the “Annual Internal Research Review Workshop-2025,” organized by the Agriculture Wing of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI).
The speakers also said that the total production of jute in Bangladesh is 1.5 million tons, the total production of jute sticks is 3 million tons, and the production of charcoal is 6 million tons.
Speaking as the chief guest at the workshop, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said that there is a lot to be done about jute, the potential of jute will never end. “Market research should also focus on how other countries are working with raw jute. Scientists need to broaden their mindset and work in detail, because there is a lot to explore with jute; the potential of jute will never end. Research needs to be done in light of the market and reality. We also need to work on how to increase jute production in our limited land,” he said.
The Agriculture Secretary also said that jute research will progress further if the university’s research sector and research institutions work together. “Jute is not just a cash crop, jute is the pride of Bangladesh, a means of identifying Bengal. Cuba, a country on the other side of the world, has also built two factories by importing jute from Bangladesh. Despite the demand, many countries in the world cannot produce jute due to the environment in their country, so Bangladesh is blessed with jute. Just as technology is changing day by day, we need to work to take jute forward with jute technology,” said the Agriculture Secretary.
In his speech, BJRI Director General Dr. Nargis Akhter said, Jute is not only our golden fiber, but also a golden chapter in our history and heritage. Since its inception, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute has invented a total of 57 varieties, 223 agricultural technologies, and 69 industrial and technical technologies.
“Since jute is considered an agricultural product, farmers are getting all kinds of facilities like agricultural loans and jute loans for exporting products. Charcoal exporters get a 20% cash incentive from the government. There are about 50 charcoal factories in Bangladesh. Currently, some factories are closed.”
The workshop was attended as special guests by Honorable Additional Secretary (Research Division) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Md. Abu Zubair Hossain Bablu, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, and Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Latif.
The workshop was welcomed by Dr. Md. Golam Mostafa, and the main paper was presented by Dr. S. M. Mahbub Ali, Coordinator and Chief Scientific Officer of BJRI Genome Research Center.
Among others, the Director General of the Soil Resources Development Institute, Dr. Begum Samia Sultana, Executive Director of the Cotton Development Board, Md. Rezaul Amin, Director of Agricultural Information Service, Md. Masihur Rahman, Director General of National Agricultural Training Academy, Md. Saiful Azam Khan, Director of the Seed Certification Agency, Md. Joynal Abedin, Joint Secretary (Research Branch) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Md. Lutfar Rahman, Joint Secretary (Law Branch), Dr. Md. Moktar Hossain, BJRI Director (Jute-Textile), Dr. Ferdous Ara Dilruba, Director (PTC), Dr. Mahmud Al Hossain, all the Chief Scientific Officers of the said institute, Director (Administration and Finance) Dr. Md. Yaruddin Sarkar, Private Secretary (Deputy Secretary) to the Agriculture Secretary, Md. Makshudul Islam, scientists and officials of all levels of BJRI, officials of various departments of the agriculture sector, and farmer representatives.
