Sowing of jutes seeds gets momentum in Rangpur region

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RANGPUR, April 01, 2018 (BSS) – The farmers have intensified the
process of sowing jute seeds following rainfalls during the past couple of
days almost everywhere in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region
this season.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here have
said that a target of producing over 6.82-lakh bales of jute from 63,600
hectares of land has been fixed for the region during the current season.

“Sowing of jute seeds got momentum this week following sporadic
rainfalls in recent days though the farmers started the process last month,”
said Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional office Khondker Md
Mesbahul Islam.

He said the farmers started showing more interests in jute cultivation
during the past couple of years following the government’s declaration of
jute as the national agricultural product and use of jute sacs mandatory in
various sectors.

“The farmers may exceed the fixed jute farming target in the region this
time following its bumper production and lucrative price during the last two
consecutive seasons,” he added.

Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office here Md Moniruzzaman
said the farmers will produce over 6.33-lakh bales of ‘Tosha’ variety jute
fibre from 56,300 hectares of land, 49,191 bales of ‘Deshi’ variety fibre
from 5,295 hectares and 253 bales of ‘Mechta’ variety of jute from 30
hectares of land in Rangpur region this season.

“The farmers are showing more interest in jute cultivation after getting
high quality seeds from Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, other
recommended government and non-government organisations and dealers in recent
years,” he said.

He said the farmers have already sowed jute seeds on 3,550 hectares of
land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts
under the region amid favorable climatic conditions for cultivation of the
crop.

Talking to BSS, farmers Echhahaq Ali, Aiyub Hossain, Abdul Malek and
Ariful Haque of different villages sunder Sadar upazila here said they
intensified the process of sowing quality jute seeds in recent days after
rainfalls in the area.

They thanked the present government for ensuring supply of quality jute
seeds and providing them with training on using ribbon-retting machines to
ease the processes of separation and rotting of the fibre to get better
production.

Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam said adequate
steps have been taken and the field level officials directed to extend
necessary assistance to the farmers in making the jute cultivation programme
successful this season.