Katalyst, BJRI promote alternative retting techniques

Katalyst has introduced ribbon retting along with low-cost retting in five districts of Bangladesh as part of its move to ensure better jute quality.
With the aid of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), Katalyst has provided trainings, organised field days in the month to August 12 in Gopalganj, Jessore, Kushtia, Rangpur, and Lalmonirhat to popularise the alternative retting technologies among jute growers.
The last of its farmer's field day was held in Lalmonirhat on Thursday, which ended the month-long field level activities. Over 200 farmers attended the field day, along with the local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials and BJRI field officers.
Jute is the second most important natural fiber in Bangladesh after cotton and contributes 4 percent to the national gross domestic product.
About three million farmers are engaged in jute cultivation in the country and the sector is the third largest export earner with more than $450 million in annual overseas sales.
Katalyst has taken up the initiative to introduce alternative retting technology, especially in areas where there is a lack of sufficient water for retting.
According to Katalyst, the scarcity of water for retting is threatening jute cultivation in parts of the country. The ribbon-retting technology uses less water while maintaining exemplary jute quality, while in areas where water is no problem, the low-cost retting method is also being promoted.
Traditional retting practices -- although still popular as most farmers are unaware of better practices -- not only reduces jute quality but also contaminates the environment, the organisation said.
Katalyst's intervention in the five districts includes field days and demonstrations where the respective knowledge of such alternative retting techniques will be disseminated to more than 2,000 farmers and concerned extension officers directly.
Under the joint initiative, the firm would organise regional workshops specifically for agricultural officers and extension officers in those districts.
After securing a sound response from the field level programmes, Katalyst will work towards dispersing findings on retting technologies throughout Bangladesh with the assistance of DAE.
Katalyst said better retting technologies yields higher quality jute fiber and increases income for farmers. It will increase the price and quality of Bangladeshi jute and also improve the lives of the jute farmers and market players associated with the jute sector.
Katalyst is implemented under the commerce ministry in association with Swisscontact and GTZ International Services.