Low jute price in Narail

Farmers harvesting early-jute in Narail. Photo: STAR

Due to continuous heavy downpThe farmers of three Upazila's in Narail district started harvesting jute at an early stage. Expectations are higher for prices and to cultivate Rupa-Amon paddy in the same field in this season. But their optimism to get higher prices is beginning to fade as the early coming of golden fiber is selling for lower price than the last year.
Each maund of raw jute is now sold at Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200. The jute market price is less than last year for all varieties, farmers said.
The market price of jute in Narail district last year was high which made many farmers interested in Jute cultivation.
According to DAE (Department of Agriculture Extension) sources, this season, the farmers of the district cultivated jute on 22,610 hectares of land against the target of 22,266 hectares while the production target set by DAE is 2,42,525 bell (5 maund = 1 bell).
Asok Kumar Halder, district training officer of Narail DAE said that heavy rain damaged the growth of jute this year. He further added that usually jute plants grow up 8 to 9 feet, but heavy rain damaged the growth to 3 to 4 feet and made the plant thinner.The farmers are worried about recovery of the production cost as heavy rain hampered jute production and low price in the market.
Several Farmers said that expectation on higher prices this season and to cultivate Rupa-Amon encouraged them to harvest jute early, although they usually reap it between late August and September. Cultivation period of Rupa-Amon paddy is beginning of July and the harvesting period is mid October.
"A labourer is paid Tk. 400 to Tk. 500 per day. More processing is needed for jute to be market-ready. “If proper price is not fixed, farmers do not get profit", said Romen Biswas, a farmer at Mulia village of Narail Sadar Upazila of the district.
Rezaul Islam, a farmer of Auria village under Sadar upazila of Narail district said, "I sold 37 maunds of jute at Tk 1,000 per maund. The price is disappointing compared to my production cost."
Horosit Roy, another farmer of village Bamonhat in Sadar Upazila of Narail said that the production was good but he had to sell the jute at Tk 1,000 just after harvest".
As the government yet not has started to buy jute, and also the quality of early-harvested is not sufficient to get higher price, according to DAE. Lacking of more information on newly introduced ribbon rating system, which enables jute rotting with much less water and extracting quality fiber, most of the farmers rotted jute in local ditches, rivers and other water bodies.