Salinity tolerant jute brings hope for farmers in Kalapara
The Jute Research Institute at Pakhimara village in Kalapara upazila under the district is going to introduce salinity tolerant variety of jute at the farmers' level in April this year.
At the initial stage, about 25 acres of land of 250 farmers in five villages of the upazila will be brought under jute cultivation as local farmers showed interest to cultivate the cash crop.
"In last year we invented a salinity tolerant variety of jute that has already been approved by National Seed Board. We planned cultivation of this new variety at farmers' level this year," Dr Mahmud Al Hossain, acting scientific officer of the institute.
"Ten lakh six thousand hectares of land in 18 coastal districts remain uncultivated due to salinity and we have a plan to bring the vast areas under jute cultivation that would bring profit to farmers," he added.
To motivate local farmers to cultivate jute and provide required trainings for the purpose, the Ministry of Agriculture set up the Jute Research Institute on 10 acres of land at Pakhimara village beside Patuakhali-Kuakata road in 2001.
"Once jute was cultivated in the area but farmers gradually lost interest in it as demand for jute and jute goods declined due to popular use of synthetic items. Besides, the lands became unfit for jute growing due to salinity. Now we hope to cultivate jute again as seed of its salinity tolerant variety will be provided us," said Md Sultan Gazi, a farmer of Pakhimara village.
Technical and financial help will be provided to the farmers interested in jute cultivation, said Md Moshiur Rahman, Kalapara upazila agriculture officer.
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