Rajshahi, July 21: Harvesting of jute is progressing fast everywhere in all eight districts under Rajshahi division in the current season with a prediction of better yield despite the present novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.As there was favorable climatic condition, jute was cultivated on more lands than that of the target fixed by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
At present, most of the growers along with their family members are very much engaged in harvesting, decomposing, segregating and selling activities of jute. The activities have also generated seasonal job opportunities for many people amid the Covid-19 crisis situation.
On starting of full-scale harvesting and decomposing activities within next15 to 20 days, jute will be available in the markets abundantly.
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.
Last year, the initial market price of jute was Taka 1400 to 1500 per mound. But, finally the price stood at Taka 1800-2,000 per mound, he said.
Razzaque mentioned the price could have been more if there were no syndicate of middlemen and traders. He sought government intervention in controlling the syndicate to facilitate the farmers to get fair prices.
Meanwhile, DAE has set a target of producing around 1.41 lakh tonnes of jute from 1.19 lakh hectares of lands in the Rajshahi division during the current season. Officials and farmers are very much hopeful about harvesting better jute yield everywhere in the country’s northwest region including its vast Barind tract this season.
He said farmers got fair prices of jute during the last couple of years and as a result, they are now eager to cultivate more jute.
Agriculturist Sudhen Roy said jute farming has started getting a brighter dimension through increasing its production and adopting other effective measures.
The farmers have started adopting the latest line sowing jute technology using seeders machines saving huge seed and reducing farming costs and ribbon-retting method to get quality fibre and more profit,” he added.
