RAJSHAHI, Aug 25, 2019 (BSS) – Huge production along with the reasonable
market price made the jute growers satisfied in the region including its vast
Barind tract in the current season.
Newly harvested jute fibre has started arriving in local markets and the
sellers are getting good price in the initial stage.
Kalam Sheikh, a farmer of Puran Tahirpur village in Durgapur Upazila, said
he got nine mounds of jute from one bigha of land after spending around Taka
7,500 this season.
He earned Taka 14,400 after selling the jute fibre on Saturday last, he
said, adding that he has also jute-sticks which will give some extra money
after meeting his family needs.
Another jute farmer Zafar Ali of Takipur village under Paba Upazila said
there is no problem of decomposing jute this season by dint of frequent
rainfall.
He opined that tyranny of middlemen and traders syndicate must be strictly
checked for the sake of farmers’ welfare.
Abul Hossain, a jute trader of Fultola village in Godagari Upazila, said
the newly harvested jute is being sold at Taka 1,500 to 1,600 per mound in
local markets at present.
Jute fibre in large amount is likely to arrive in the markets within next
couple of weeks, he said, expecting there is no chance of falling market
price in the days to come.
Monsur Rahman, owner of Naohata Jute Mills, said market price of jute has
been enhanced since last year. Many jute mills were established in different
parts of the country in private initiative resulting in increase its market
price.
Abdur Razzaque, a farmer of Shreepur village under Paba Upazila, said
jute’s golden era has started returning back.
He said the role of private jute mills and government’s declaration about
the mandatory use of jute bags in packaging public food grains boosted jute
cultivation.
As there was favorable climate condition, jute was cultivated on more lands
than the target fixed by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Target had been set to produce around 12.15 lakh tonnes of jute from 1.12
lakh hectares of lands in all eight districts under the Rajshahi division
during the current season, sources said.
DAE Deputy Director Shamsul Haque said jute farming is most cost-effective
and eco-friendly as well. One bigha of farming field can yield eight and half
mounds in average costing hardly Taka 8,000. Farmers always become happy when
they get cherished price, he said.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nur-Ur-Rahman told BSS that increased
farming of jute could revive the past glory of the golden fibre ushering a
new era in the economy as well as saving the environment and soil health from
further degradation.