Farmers are busy harvesting jute, retting them and separating the fiber from jute sticks in Jibanangar upazila of Chuadanga district. They are happy as the price of jute is higher this year compared to the previous years.
When this correspondent visited various areas of the upazila, it was seen that the farmers were retting the jute in waterbodies after harvesting them. In some places, work of separating fiber from jute sticks was going on. However, the cultivation and yield of jute were lower this year than the previous years.
Many jute farmers did not cultivate jute much this year as they could not cover the production cost after selling the jute last year. However, they are happy with the price even though the yield was lower this year. As there is a good demand and price of jute in the markets, they are being able to cover the previous losses and make a profit from it.
The amount of jute cultivation may increase in this area in the next season. Each mound of jute is being sold at Tk 2,400 to Tk 2,800 in Hasadah, Andulbaria Bazar and Uthli Bazar of the upazila.
Sources from Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension said jute has been cultivated in 1,195 hectares of land in one municipality and eight unions of the upazila this season. As the jute farmers did not get good price in the market in the previous years, they were less interested in jute cultivation. The Department of Agricultural Extension expressed its hope that jute cultivation will increase next season as the price and yield were good this year.
When this correspondent talked to the farmers, they said that even a few years ago, the farmers faced losses after cultivating jute. Many of them were forced to cultivate other crops. In the meantime, those who kept cultivating jute in small scale made a profit. Watching them, the other farmers returned to jute cultivation. The price of jute is better this year compared to the previous years.
Jute farmer Atiar Rahman, resident of Dhopakhali village in Monohorpur union of the upazila, said along with paddy cultivation, I have cultivated jute in three Bighas of land. The yield was not that well due to shortage of rain. However, I have got a good market price. I will be able to cover my loss and make profit this year.
Another jute farmer Rabiul Islam of Hasadah village said I was worried about jute as there was no rain at the beginning of the season. However, there was a bit of rain later and the yield was good compared to previous year. I have cultivated jute in two Bighas of land, which is half of the land compared to last year. However, the price of jute in the markets is better than the last year, he said.
Seasonal jute farmer Rafiqul Islam of Benipur village in Simanta union said I am in jute business for several years. The famers did not get a good price for jute in the previous years. However, the market price of jute is good this year.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Alamgir Hossain said jute was cultivated in less land than the target area this year. The cultivation of jute was less compared to the previous year as the weather was not suitable and lack of rain. However, I think the farmers will be more interested in jute farming in the future as they got a higher price this year compared to the previous years, said the Upazila Agricultural Officer.
