Ashcall to bring back golden days for jute

A road show of semi-automated Jute Fibre Extraction Machine ‘Ashcall’ was held on Monday at the Rangpur RDRS premises.

To overcome various challenges in jute cultivation, semi-automated Jute Fiber Extraction Machine ‘Ashcall’ was introduced in July last in four northern districts – Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha.

Now 60 entrepreneurs are working with the ‘Ashcall’.

The automatic jute fibre extraction machine can easily separate fibre from jute at a shorter duration. The expense is one-third from the traditional method. The loss is the least in this approach and the quality of the fibre is ensured.

Practical Action Bangladesh is implementing “Securing Employment and Economic Development around Jute Textile and Light Engineering Sector in North-West Bangladesh” project, together with RDRS Bangladesh, Karupannya Rangpur Limited, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Rangpur Zilla Lathe Machine Sramik Union.

Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan, additional deputy commissioner (General) of Rangpur inaugurated the road show, said a press release of Practical Action Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The European Commission is funding the project with an aim to strengthen the skills and employability of workers, entrepreneurs in the cottage and small enterprises in the jute and light-engineering sectors in order to enhance their competitiveness in both national and global market.

Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan, additional deputy commissioner (General) of Rangpur said, “To produce quality products, quality jute fibre is required. But, due to traditional fibre collection method, the quality of jute is decreasing. It is also taking toil on time, expense, and labour.”

Ashraf Ali said “The project expects to improve the quality of jute fibre for producing high quality and diversified jute products and to create demand in both in national and the international market.

The project will contribute to the economic development to one of the most economically deprived parts of the country by enhancing skills and creating jobs for thousands of extreme poor individuals in the jute textile and light engineering related sectors”.

Hasin Jahan, country director of Practical Action said, “‘Ashcall’ will reduce farmers’ expenditure by two-thirds in Jute fibre extraction. Through this way fibre quality can be ensured.”