RANGPUR, July 31, 2021 (BSS) - Farmers are happy to get better prices of
jute as harvest of the fibre crop is nearing completion in all five districts
of Rangpur agriculture region this season.

   According to market sources and farmers, the newly harvested jute fibre is
being sold at rates between Taka 2,000 to Taka 2,400 per mound (every 40 kg)
depending on varieties and quality of the fibre.

   Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the
government had fixed a target of producing 6,89,368 bales of jute from 58,520
hectares of land for the region during the current season.

   The target included production of 6,45,936 bales of 'Tosha' variety jute
fibre from 54,100 hectares of land, 34,928 bales of 'Deshi' variety from
3,560 hectares, 2,628 bales of 'Mechta' variety from 360 hectares and 5,875
bales of Kenaf variety from 500 hectares of land.

   The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh
Jute Research Institute (BJRI) and other organisations provided assistance,
training and technologies to the farmers for enhancing jute farming this
season.

   However, farmers have finally cultivated jute on 56,412 hectares of land,
less by only 2,108 hectares of land or 3.60 percent against the fixed farming
target for the crop.

   Of them, farmers have cultivated jute on 9,197 hectares of land in
Rangpur, 16,460 hectares in Gaibandha, 19,980 hectares in Kurigram, 4,075
hectares in Lalmonirhat and 7,000 hectares of land in Nilphamari districts of
the region.

   "So far, farmers have harvested jute on 35,838 hectares of land and
produced 4,84,609 bales of the fibre crop at an average yield rate of 13.52
bales per hectare," said Agriculturist Bidhu Bhusan Ray, additional director
of the DAE, Rangpur region.

   The government provided high yielding varieties of quality jute seeds,
training and inputs to the farmers to enable them in expanding cultivation
and enhancing production of jute for reviving past glory of the fibre crop.

   Farmers have cultivated high yielding varieties of jute on more land areas
though the fixed target for jute farming marked a little shortfall due to the
crop diversification and cultivation of Aush rice and maize on more land
areas.

   "However, we are hopeful to achieve the fixed production target of jute
for expanded cultivation of its high yielding varieties in the region this
year," Ray added.

   Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said a better jute production is likely in the
region following excellent growth of tender jute plants amid favourable
climatic conditions.

   "Declaration of jute as a national agricultural product by the government
and mandatory use of jute sacs in various sectors continues increasing demand
of the fibre crop making jute farming more profitable for farmers in recent
years," Rashid added.

   Talking to BSS, jute growers Mofizar Rahman, Ariful Haque, Mokhlesur
Rahman, Akbar Ali and many others at Badarganj Jute Market in the Rangpur
said they are selling the newly harvested jute at rates between Taka 2,100 to
Taka 2,500 per mound.