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Bangladesh became independent in 1974 with the vision of achieving excellence in jute research and development and increasing the income of farmers and jute related beneficiaries through innovation and transfer of technology related to jute agriculture, technical industry and jute textiles. The present Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) was established as one of the oldest research institutes in the country. At present, BJRI has a total of 12 research departments in three wings namely Jute Agricultural Research, Technical Research and Jute Textile Research and a total of 13 departments including Planning, Training and Communication Department. Apart from this, there is a Jute Agricultural Testing Center and four Regional Jute Research Centers at Manikganj and a Seed Production and Research Center at Nasipur (Dinajpur) for regional research on jute according to the timely needs and requirements of the farmers. A gene bank was established at BJRI in 1982 with the financial support of the then International Jute Organization for conservation of domestic / foreign seeds of jute, kenaf and mesta crops and for use in improved varieties. BJRI is currently conducting its research activities in three streams-
(1) Innovation of high yielding varieties of jute and jute fiber crops, its production management and research on seed production and storage,
(Ii) Research on jute industry and research on innovation of value added multipurpose new jute products and improvement of conventional jute products and
(3) Research on production of jute textile products such as jute and cotton and other natural and synthetic fibers.
Aims and objectives of BJRI
Innovation of high yielding jute, kenaf and mestar varieties, salinity, low temperature tolerant and light insensitive and disease and insect resistant varieties, improved agricultural management, improved fertilizer management and improved jute digestion technology through agricultural research of jute.
To provide technical assistance to the jute industry in the production of commercially profitable jute products by innovating various new product making technologies and improving the quality of conventional jute products to increase the versatility of jute industry through research.
* Determining the role of jute in the changed economic situation, verifying its acceptability through economics and marketing research of newly invented jute and jute products and identifying various barriers related to the jute market and determining ways to overcome them.
* Conduct regular seminars, workshops and training programs for farmers, technologists, scientists, economists and planners to exchange and develop jute knowledge and ideas.
* Control, development and management of agricultural, technical and economic research of jute and algae fiber crops and expansion of production and research results of fiber crops.
* Production, supply and procurement of reproductive jute seeds with improved genetic purity and limited quality declared (TLS) quality jute seeds; Distribution to selected farmers, recognized organizations and agencies approved by the Board.
* Establishment of research centers, sub-centers, pilot projects and farms in different parts of the country for the purpose of research on various problems related to jute and its fiber products, jute products and accessories.
* Demonstration of new varieties of jute invented by the Institute and selection of project areas in different parts of the country for training of farmers for the purpose of production of all these varieties of jute and taking measures for training of farmers.
* Training of all concerned staff and farmers on improved methods of cultivation of jute and allied fiber crops and training of concerned jute product entrepreneurs on technical research technology related to jute and other activities.
Activities and achievements related to agricultural research in 2018-19 financial year
Since the establishment of BJRI, a total of 50 high yielding varieties of jute and jute fiber crops have been developed and released. Of these, 22 (9 desi jute, 6 tosha jute, 3 kenaf and 2 mesta) improved varieties are currently being recommended for cultivation at the farmer level. Out of these 22 recommended high yielding varieties, 11 varieties (4 of Desi Jute, 3 of Tosha Jute, 2 of Kenaf and 2 of Mestar) have been developed during the tenure of the present government. To alleviate the shortage of jute seeds in the country, BJRI has invented 'Nabi Jute Seed Production' technology for jute seed production. Where normal seed production requires about 8-9 months and yield is low, Nabi method yields more than double (approximately 500-600 kg / ha) in just 4-5 months. As a result, this technology has become very popular at the farmer level. Through the use of this technology, it will be possible to address the seed shortage in phases. Moreover, farmers are being motivated through training under the program titled 'I do my own seed'. 65 advanced technologies have been developed on agro-management of jute and jute crops, fertilizer management, disease and pest control management, jute based crop stage and jute digestion process.