a major problem for the jute industry is how to utilize effectively the large proportion of low-grade jute and cuttings in the total amount of raw jute delivered to the mills. by using an enzymatic method of softening and cleaning of low-grade jute and cuttings developed at the bangladesh jute research institute with financial assistance from the international development research centre and international jute organization, it is now possible to utilize these fibres in higher-quality batches without impairing production efficiency. proper utilization of low-grade jute and cuttings would reduce the costs of production appreciably. with the application of enzyme 726, jute cuttings and 28 low-grade jute can be used in sacking-weft yarns and 33 jute cuttings can also be utilized in sacking-warp/hessian-weft yarns. the estimated net cost-saving from this enzymatic process, in addition to improved performance in spinning, ranges from tk.60 to tk.500 (i.e. from about u.s.$dlr@1.5 to u.s.$dlr@14) per tonne of batch. (author abstract) 7 refs