Minister vows fair price for jute growers

The government plans to take measures to ensure that growers get just prices of their jute crops, Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui said yesterday.
He inaugurated a jute products fair in Dhaka.
The government plans to fast-track disbursement of money among jute mills so millers can buy jute from farmers at just prices before middlemen come to the fore, the minister said.
The announcement came at a time when jute was being sold at Tk 2,500-2,600 a maund on the domestic market.
Farmers sold it at Tk 600-700 seven to eight months ago when jute supply was abundant just after harvest.
The farmers sell their produce in June-July after yielding their harvest, mainly to middlemen, as the jute mills cannot buy jute at that time due to fund constraints.
Middlemen stockpile jute in the season and then sell it at higher prices, but farmers do not get the benefit of high prices.
"We will try to disburse money among jute mills sooner so that they can buy jute from farmers at just prices," he said.
"Now hoarders are making a windfall profit by selling jute at excessive rates. When a huge amount of money ends up in the hands of hoarders it only unsettles society," Siddiqui added.
At the function, he also urged jute product makers to increase quality to get an advantage on the global market.
A total of 66 jute product makers are displaying their products at the seven-day fair on the premises of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) on Manik Mia Avenue.
Jute Diversification Promotion Centre under the Ministry of Textile and Jute is organising the fair, open from 10am to 8pm everyday without an entry fee.
Jute products, including bags, ornaments, cloths, showpieces, saris, carpet and shoes are being displayed at the show.
Asked, Bodrul Alam, proprietor of Shohag Jute Industries, said demand for diversified jute products export is high but they fail to compete with India or China in the export market, as the government does not give any incentive for jute products export.
He also urged the government to take measures to make raw materials for jute made products available.
Textiles and Jute Secretary Ashraful Makbul also spoke.