RANGPUR, April 13, 2022 (BSS) - The Department of Agricultural Extension
(DAE) has fixed a target of producing 6,77,619 bales of jute from 58,124
hectares of land in Rangpur agriculture region during the current season.
 
The DAE officials said enthusiastic farmers are sowing jute seeds on their
crop lands in all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat
and Nilphamari across the region.
 
Under the programme, farmers will produce 6,35,208 bales of 'Tosha' variety
jute from 53,690 hectares of land, 33,863 bales of 'Deshi' variety from 3,574
hectares, 2,555 bales of 'Mechta' variety from 350 hectares and 5,993 bales
of 'Kenaf' variety of jute from 510 hectares of land.
 
Farmers will cultivate jute on 9,768 hectares of land in Rangpur, 15,985
hectares in Gaibandha, 19,602 hectares in Kurigram, 4,599 hectares in
Lalmonirhat and 8,170 hectares of land in Nilphamari districts this season.
 
"Farmers have already completed sowing of jute seeds on 16,843 hectares of
land till Tuesday," Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region
Agriculturist Md. Tauhidul Ikbal told the national news agency.
 
Tender jute plants are growing well amid favourable climatic conditions and
frequent rainfalls as the process of sowing of jute seeds has got full
momentum in the region.
 
"After getting high yielding varieties of jute seeds and other assistance
from the government this time and fair prices of jute during the last two
consecutive seasons, farmers are expected to cultivate jute on more lands
this season," he said.
 
The farmers are enhancing cultivation and production of jute and getting fair
prices of the eco-friendly fibre since the government declared jute as
national agricultural product and made use of jute sacs mandatory in various
sectors to increase its local demand.
 
The DAE and other related organisations and dealers supplied locally produced
high quality and imported jute seeds to the farmers alongside providing
latest technologies to expand its cultivation.
 
"The DAE is providing required training to farmers for separating and rotting
of jute fibre adopting latest technologies to ensure better quality and
enable them in getting higher prices and revive past glory of the golden
fibre," Ikbal said.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman
Mandal said tender jute plants are now growing superbly and the process of
sowing jute seeds continues smoothly amid favourable climatic conditions this
season.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Lokman Ali, Mossarraf Hossain, Uttam Kumar of
different villages in Rangpur Sadar upazila said they have already completed
sowing of jute seeds and tender plants are growing excellent on their crop
fields.
 
Farmers Mominur Rahman, Rahim Uddin and Mokhlesur Rahman of Badarganj upazila
in Rangpur said they are expecting to complete sowing of jute seeds on their
crop lands by the next week.