Jute Harvesting

Farmers have started harvesting jute in full swing since July's end. They say prices are good this year, hovering around Tk 2,500 per maund. For the first time since Bangladesh's independence, none of the natural fibre will be bought by the world's largest state-owned jute goods maker and exporter, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, which shuttered last month. Yet, farmers have increased their area of cultivation by 8 per cent this year to 7.20 lakh hectares, showed data from the Department of Agricultural Extension. Public and private mills consume more than 60 lakh bales of raw jute to make yarn/twine, sacking and hessian products, mainly for the export market, said industry operators. And 14 lakh bales of raw jute are exported annually. The photos were taken in Tangail last week.