Jute prospect brightens

BANGLADESHI scientist Dr. Maqsudul Alam has put yet another feather in his cap by decoding the genome of deshi or white variety of jute. He discovered the genetic sequence of tosha jute in 2010. This is yet another milestone in the research to discover the genetic makeup of different types of jute, once famous as the major foreign exchange earning crop.
The discovery is of enormous significance for reviving the past glory of the 'golden fibre, the production of which is now saddled with multiple problems including ever shrinking acreage coupled with low market price for the crop. These are, again, a source of disincentive for jute growers.
Conventional approach will not help resolve these problems towards reviving the golden era of jute. What we need is a more advanced scientific approach.
Equipped with a deeper insight into deshi or white jute's genome, scientists will now be able to tackle those issues from a new angle. They, will, for instance, be able to develop new strains of jute that can fight pests better and stand adverse climatic conditions such as drought, salinity and so on.
The information may lead to creating new types of jute with finer fibre quality as well as higher per acre yield potential.
Bangladesh can make the most of this discovery to grab the rising global market of natural fibres replacing synthetic ones. At the same time, it can also recover its lost place in global market as the number one jute producing nation.