Jute cultivation has gained popularity in all three upazilas of Narail due to necessary support of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) to the farmers and fair price of the cash crop.
The DAE estimated that this year a total of 20,950 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation with production target 2,30,450 bel of jute. Out them, a total of 6,450 hectares of land were cultivated in Sadar upazila, 11,550 hectares of land in Lohagora upazila, and 2,950 hectares of land were cultivated in Kalia upazila.
Sources said, the government has given the maximum priority to increase jute production as to establish back the glory the golden fiber of Bangladesh.
Deputy Director of Narail DAE Chinmoy Roy said that the farmers are now showing their interest in cultivating more jute this season as they got fair price last year. Last year, a total of 18,000 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation in the district.
The DAE office provided all necessary imputs including quality seeds, fertilizers and insecticides to the farmer in proper time.
Some jute farmers, inclduing Waliar Rahman of Ambaria village, Elias Sheikh of Raghunathpur village and Intaj Mollah of Fuldah village in Kalia upazila, Yunus Sheikh of Mochra village, Moniruzzaman Kalu of Amada village in Lohagora upazila and Harun Biswas of Vowakhali and Chandon of Bakli village in Sadar Upazila said that most of the farmers are showing interest cultivating Tussah variety of jute as its demand and prices are high in the local markets then other varieties.
Narail DAE training officer Md. Nazrul Islam said that they are arranging training and other motivational programmes for the farmers to adopt the cropping pattern to boost agricultural production through the best use of modern technologies.
A farmer said that the cultivated jute last year and earned benigfit. For this, he brought more land under jute cultivation this year. “We are now getting optimum price from our cash crop. The jute cultivation brings new hope. Many of farmers are now showing interest in the cultivation,” he said.
