The greatest use of jute fibre is for packing agricultural crops like rice, wheat, oil-seeds, wool, cotton, etc. and also for packing industrial products like sugar, cement, fertilizer, etc. As a packing material jute is quite cheap, strong and durable. Jute is also used for the manufacture of tarpaulins and canvas.
The first jute mill was started at Dundee in Scotland in 1838, and then it spread to India and to many countries in Europe and elsewhere. After the partition of India considerable Jute mills industry has developed in recent years in Pakistan (Bangladesh). With various degrees of intensity, jute mill industry is now found in many countries of the world, i.e., India, Bangladesh,Germany, U.K., France, Italy and other countries.
India has the undisputed leadership in this industry, while Bangladesh is a growing manufacturer. It is important to note that 97 per cent of the world's jute cultivation is in the Brahmaputra valley and the lower Gangetic delta of India and Bangladesh. Over three-fourths of the manufacturing capacity is in this jute growing area.
Bangladesh: Though Bangladesh was the largest producer of jute, she had no jute mill at the time of partition. Till 1960 the country developed 15 jute mills producing 270,000 tons of jute goods. At present the country has 28 jute mills producing over 500 tonnes mostly gunny bags and hessians. Mills are situated at Chittagong, Narayangunj, Khulna, Chandpur, Ghorashal, Choumohini and Narsindi.
Jute Industry for manufacture of yarn and cloth first started in Britain though hand woven cloth has been produced in Bengal much earlier. Jute mills are located on the banks of the Hooghly river north and south of Calcutta. India is the largest producer of jute goods amounting to one-third of the world total. China and Bangladesh are important producers of jute goods. There are jute mills in Britain and France. Jute cloth is used as packaging material for agricultural commodities and industrial products. Bulk handling of food grains in ships has reduced the demand for jute bags. Similarly, competition from synthetic fibres for packing cement has reduced the demand for jute bags.
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