POBNEWS24, Rajbari, Aug 5, 2021 : In Rajbari district, jute farmers are happy over the bumper production of jute this year and its fair price.
The yield has been bumper and farmers are smiling as the prices are getting better in the district, which is famous for its production of golden fiber jute. The yield has been good as the weather was favourable for jute cultivation.
The bumper production of jute has brought smiles on the faces of farmers. However, the farmers are worried about the transportation cost and labour crisis.
According to the Rajbari Department of Agricultural Extension, jute has been planted on 47,500 hectares of land in the last 2019-20 fiscal year, but in the fiscal year 2020-21, it has been planted on about 47,960 hectares of land.
Of this, jute has been planted on 10,120 hectares in Sadar upazila, 11,060 hectares in Pangsha upazila, 9,350 hectares in Kalukhali upazila, 12,550 hectares in Baliakandi upazila and 4,260 hectares in Goalanda upazila.
There is bumper yield of jute due to availability of quality seed, balanced application of fertilizer and ensuring irrigation facilities.
Azahar Nolia, a farmer from Mridhadanga area of Ward 2 of Ujanchar UP in Goalanda upazila, said, “I have cultivated jute on 4 bighas of land. About 8 to 10 maunds of jute have been produced from per bigha of land. Per maund jute is being sold in the market for Taka between 2,600 to 3,000.
If the price remains the same till the end of the season, the farmers will benefit a lot and will become more interested in jute cultivation, he said.
Rahim Fakir, another farmer from Rokon Molla Para area of Daulatdia UP’s 8th ward of the upazila, said, “I planted jute on 10 bighas of land this time as I got good price by planting jute on 5 bighas of land last year. The yield has been good”.
Wazed Ali Sheikh of Chardhopakhali village in Khankhanapur union of Sadar upazila said, “Jute has got good yield this time. But there is not enough water to soak up harvested jute in the area. Hence, harvested jute has to be taken to other areas for soaking purpose. Besides, there is a labour crisis this time. The wages of the workers are also high. If everything goes well, I will benefit more from jute this time”.
Mojibur Rahman Moji, owner of Mollah Traders, a jute trading farm in Goalanda Bazar, said that this time jute has been planted extensively in the area. The quality of jute is better this time than last time. However, the quality of jute has declined due to lack of water in some places. In Tanahal, the farmers would get more price of jute.
SM Shahid Noor Akbar, Deputy Director of Rajbari Agriculture Extension Department, said that the district has surpassed all past records in jute production this year. Our target for this year was to plant jute on 48,500 hectares of land. But 48,960 hectares of land have been brought under the farming.
This year, the price of jute is also good. Due to bumper yield and good price, farmers will become more interested in jute cultivation in the days to come, he observed.
