InfoAnda - Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Ice Jams Flood Michigan Town, Residents Evacuated From 38 Homes By Boat | 14 February 2009
Monsoon rains swamp Philippine capital, markets shut | | 8 August 2012
Boeing posts profit rise, hikes 2010 earnings outlook | 20 October 2010

US lawmaker: China cyber espionage 'intolerable' | | 5 October 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Singapore Asia Pacific World Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash AFP - Sunday, June 20 Send IM Story Print Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Business & Economy MYMENSINGH, Bangladesh (AFP) - – Western consumers who shun environmentally unfriendly plastic bags are helping to revive the traditional jute industry in Bangladesh. Jute, a vegetable fibre that is spun into coarse threads, was once known as the "golden fibre" of the British Empire when the Indian sub-continent was ruled from London. The material's long decline was hastened in the 1980s with the advent of synthetic fabrics, but the trend is being reversed due to growing opposition to the litter and pollution caused by plastic bags. Jute exports from Bangladesh have surged -- up 70 percent year-on-year in 2010 -- with the fibre now the country's second largest export after garments. "We are exporting millions of jute bags to eco-friendly foreign buyers who want the finest products made of top quality material," Asma Mohabub Moni, a 29-year-old Bangladeshi entrepreneur and jute promoter, told AFP. "I'm always busy now. I'm preparing an order for 700,000 jute bags from a Japanese buyer, and I have regular orders from a UK-based company which wants the best jute bags available," she said. Jute cloth, also called hessian in Europe or burlap in North America, is environmentally friendly to produce, bio-degradable, versatile and cheap, making it a popular alternative to plastic bags. In 2002 Bangladesh became one of the first countries to ban plastic bags, with China following in 2008, and last month California passed a ban covering pharmacies, groceries and convenience stores. Some cities and states in India have recently tried to follow suit -- with limited success -- and many shops in Europe impose a levy on every plastic bag used. For Moni and the estimated four million Bangladeshi farmers who cultivate jute, the worldwide change in attitude is good news. She said international demand for eco-friendly jute shopping bags has grown exponentially, with her own business, based in the northern town of Mymensingh, expanding from 15 to 850 employees in the last six years. And Western consumers' preference for "fair trade" products has meant Bangladeshi jute farmers are, for the first time, getting a good price for their crop. "Ten years ago, I'd get 200 taka (three dollars) for a mound (40 kilograms) of jute, but last year we got 1,000 taka -- it's a good sign for farmers," said 40-year-old Abdul Mannan, a farmer from Jamalpur district. "More farmers are interested in growing jute now than they were 10 years back and I think that trend will continue if we get better prices," he added. In 2002, after sustaining decades of losses, the government shut down the country's largest state-run jute mill which employed nearly 25,000 people. Its closure was widely seen as the final chapter in the story of jute production in Bangladesh. "The decline started in the 1980s when the world, especially European countries, switched to synthetic fibres," said A. Barik Khan, secretary of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association. "But now consumers have understood the negative impacts of cheap synthetic fibres, and this has improved the potential for jute exports from Bangladesh, which has long been known for its good quality product." Bangladesh occupies much of the river Ganges delta plain -- fertile land perfect for growing jute -- and last year exported 547 million dollars worth of jute goods, according to official statistics. "Jute has a huge future as an export for Bangladesh," said Latifa Binte Lutfar of the Dhaka-based International Jute Study Group (IJSG). The fibre can be used in any sector from handicrafts to engineering, Lutfar said, citing the more than 2,000 tonnes of jute that Bangladesh exports to Australia each year for use in erosion control and civil engineering projects. With the new boom in demand, the IJSG is looking into developing high-yield varieties of jute seed, which will help Bangladesh -- one of the most densely populated countries on earth -- boost supply. One recent sign of how production is evolving fast came when Bangladeshi researchers announced last week that they had decoded jute's genome sequence. "We will now be able to enhance, change or add specific features to the plant," Dhaka University's molecular biology professor Zeba Islam Seraj told AFP. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament that the achievement was a "glorious event" for the country. "With this discovery, jute could regain its lost glory as the world's golden fibre," she said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Australia govt, Telstra agree on broadband project Reuters - 1 hour 46 minutes ago China Railway says to sell $914 mln A-shares Reuters - 2 hours 34 minutes ago Australia in 9.6 billion dollar deal with Telstra AFP - 2 hours 36 minutes ago Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut AFP - Sunday, June 20 Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash AFP - Sunday, June 20 News Search Top Stories Britain facing biggest budget cuts in decades Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists Murray confident Wimbledon within his grasp Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns Danes send Cameroon packing, Dutch into W.Cup last 16 More Top Stories » Related Full Coverage China Economychina economy All Full Coverage » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court Sweden's future queen to wed former personal trainer Battered BP boss relinquishes duties on US oil spill Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists EU chief Barroso says euro is strong More Most Viewed » Physicists solve mystery of missing neutrinos More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 20 June 2010
Afghanistan hit by 'alarming' rise in bombings: UN
UN alarmed over escalating violence in Afghanistan
Exiled Rwanda general wounded in South Africa shooting |
Sarkozy hails Russia as gas, skyscraper deals inked
Four Armenians and one Azeri killed in Karabakh clash |
UN says security in Afghanistan has not improved
Russia fears for health of the euro: Medvedev
Tropical storm Celia forms in Pacific off Mexico |
UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved
Hopes fade for survivors after Colombia mine blast |
25 Saudi Guantanamo prisoners return to militancy |
Press group urges Kuwaiti ruler to free blogger |
Ghana go top with draw against 10-man Aussies
US envoy Mitchell ends tour with visit to Egypt's Mubarak
APEC agrees to promote nuclear power: reports
Colombians turn to Facebook in final vote push |
China to allow more exchange rate flexibility
Strike ends at Toyota's China-based parts supplier
NeuroSky lets gamers use their brains
Iran's top Sunni rebel hanged
Britain facing biggest budget cuts in decades
Santos seen winning Colombian presidency |
US takes gentle approach in Kandahar
Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists
Iran executes leader of Sunni rebel group |
3 children killed, 23 people hurt in Afghanistan
Murray confident Wimbledon within his grasp
Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns
Obama Welcomes Chinese Exchange Rate Reforms
Danes send Cameroon packing, Dutch into W.Cup last 16
Poles vote for new president after plane crash |
Tropical Storm Celia may become hurricane off Mexico |
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Parents shot in front of daughter in Thai attacks
Death toll from floods in China reaches 132
S.Korea to boost role in anti-arms trafficking club
Malaysia's rescued baby pygmy elephant dies
Bangladesh closes university after World Cup riots
Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut
China's Xi hopes to strengthen Australia ties
Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash
Japanese fans deflated after World Cup defeat
'Brand China' takes aim at global electronics giants
Courageous Socceroos no longer an embarrassment
Chinese criticize move to loosen exchange rate
Australian burglar nabbed by sweet tooth
China makes long-awaited currency move
Japan whaling town dreams of glory days
Gambling mogul predicts 30 pct growth in Macau casinos
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
'Peasant Da Vincis' on show in Shanghai exhibition
Thirsty World Cup fans boosting beer sales: brewers
Big name companies 'ambush' World Cup
Milan fashion for men: '50s retro with a nod to green
Half a million celebrate Gay Pride in Berlin
Conservative Croatia holds its ninth Gay Pride parade
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
Baghdad suicide bombers kill 26
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01