Jute

Botanical name: Corchorus cpsularis

Family: Tilliaceae

Parts used: Jute fibre is produced from secondary phloem (bast)

Economic Importance

1. Jute is used mainly for rough weaving and for making gunny, wool and potato sacs and the covers of cotton bales.

2. The fibre is used for making twine, carpets, curtains and coarse cloth.

3. Short fibres are used to some extent in paper making.

4. Jute fibres are least expensive but most important in bast fibres. These fibres are not very strong and deteriorate rapidly when wet but are valued for being cheap and have easy spinning qualities.

5. Oil from the jute seed is used for cooking purposes and in the manufacture of soaps.

6. Young shoots and leavers are eaten as food in Egypt, Greece and Sudan.