Jute retting pollutes rivers, canals, ponds
Lalmonirhat farmers avoid ribbon retting method for lack of training
Many water bodies like rivers, canals and ponds are becoming polluted due to retting of jute plants in these water bodies as ribbon retting, a method for retting the plants with less water, is yet to gain popularity in the district.
Introduced among the local farmers some years ago on a very limited scale, the ribbon retting method did not get popularity due to lack of steps for its promotion.
Farmer Nabir Hossain, 56, of Khalaighat village under Lalmonirhat Sadar said, “We are not familiar with ribbon retting. Maybe some farmers were informed about the new system but they did not show their interest in this method. We know retting of jute plants in water bodies pollutes the water, but we have to do it because we have no alternative.”
Agriculture officials said farmers remove fibre after retting jute plants in water for two to three weeks, while ribbon retting system of extraction of the fibre does not take much time and requires less water. Ribbon retting needs polythene and a big hole in the soil. After separation of the raw fibre from the jute stalk, it is kept in the water hole, they said, adding that only a few farmers were imparted training in the district.
Farmer Abdul Hossain, 65, of Teesta village, said he heard about ribbon retting system but didn't know how to apply it. He said he processes jute plants in a canal beside his homestead, adding that the water has turned black and stinky.
Latifur Rahman, district fishery officer, said jute retting turns water bodies black and stinky, and hampers fish production and their breeding system. Latifur said he asked the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials to show the system to farmers and take steps to save water bodies from pollution.
Dr Abul Hasnat, upazila fishery officer, said if there is adequate rainfall, jute retting is not a big problem in any water body. But if the rainfall is inadequate, it hampers fish production and breeding system, he added.
Sarwar-Ul-Haque, deputy director of DAE, said they are trying to introduce the ribbon retting method among the farmers. “Some farmers were given training about this method, and they are using it properly at many villages,” he said, adding that all farmers would be provided training soon.