High yield fails to cheer up jute growers

Jute growers of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh are worried due to low market price despite expectation of bumper production this season.    

During a recent visit to different villages in these districts, this correspondent saw jute farmers busy cutting and processing the crop as harvesting is going on in full swing.

Ramesh Chandra Barman, 55, of Dakkhin Bathina village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila told this correspondent that he cultivated jute on 50 decimals of land and produced 14 maunds (one maund = 40 kg) of jute fibre spending Tk 12,000. He sold five maunds at Tk 1,250 per maund, he added.

“We cannot get good profit by cultivating the crop as the market price is lower than last year,” Ramesh said.

Sajjad Selim, 47, of Rosea village in Atway upaizla of Panchagarh said he cultivated jute on 2.5 acres of land, adding that although the production of jute is good, the low market price is worrying them.

Altaf Hossain, a local jute trader of Sakoya Bazar in Boda upazila, said jute is being sold for Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400 per maund, depending on quality. It is lower than last year, when it was sold for Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,800.

Thakurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Habibul Islam said the growers should get good price as the demand for environment-friendly and diversified jute goods was increasing day-by-day, at home and abroad.

If the jute purchasing centres in the district function properly, the growers can get fair prices that will help them make good profit, he added. 

Chief Inspector of Thakurgaon Jute Directorate Abu Ehia said six jute purchasing centres have been set up in the two districts.

One centre was opened at Amin Jute Mills in Thakurgaon on July 23 for purchasing raw jute this year, but sales are yet to get momentum. The rest of the centres are yet to open, he added. 

Deputy Director (DD) of Thakurgaon Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Moududul Islam said jute was cultivated on 8,720 hectares of land in Thakurgaon against the target of 9,580 hectares, with production target of one lakh 3,326 bales. 

DD of Panchagarh DAE Shamsul Haque said jute was cultivated on 13,580 hectares of land against the target of 13,570 hectares, with production target of one lakh 47,313 bales.

Tosha variety of jute covered about 85 per cent of cultivated land and local variety covered 15 per cent, and the quality is good, farmers and DAE officials said.

Shamsul said jute grew well due to favourable weather condition and smooth supply of agriculture inputs, adding that harvesting is going on in full swing and production will exceed the target.