RAJSHAHI, Aug 8: Due to less rainfall than usual and less price than the expectation, the local growers are losing interest in jute farming.
This year the farmers have cultivated jute on 875-hectare less land than the last year's. This year's cultivation target was 13,500 ha of land. But, due to lack of interest, the target could not be achieved.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said jute was cultivated on 13,622 ha of land in 2016 and on 13,700 ha of land in 2017. But this year, 12,825 ha of land were brought under the cultivation.
Agriculture officials generally motivate farmers to cultivate jute as it requires less irrigation, but the farmers did not get expected price last year though the yield was good.
Due to less rain this year in Rajshahi like the previous year, the farmers are not showing much interest in jute cultivation. So, the cultivation is gradually decreasing in the district.
Besides, the farmers are not getting much water for rotting jute as most of the water bodies have dried up. So, the quality of jute is decreasing and the farmers are not getting fair price.
Farmer Musa of Bhugroil area in Paba Upazila said, "I cultivated jute on three bighas of land this year. I'm expecting to get 10 maunds of jute in per bigha. But, I'm worried whether I will earn minimum profit from the farming."
He also said the cost of cutting jute from one bigha of land and rotting the same is about Tk 3,000. Besides, for extracting jute fibre, a labourer has to be paid Tk 400 and provided three-time meal. Finally, the cost behind per labourer stands at Tk 500.
Farmer Dukhu of Boraipara area in Paba Upazila said, "I cultivated jute on one bigha of land this year. The yield was good, but I'm worried about getting fair price."
He also said farmers have to suffer from fewer prices of jute and low quality jute seeds. Besides, labourers have to be brought from Sirajganj, Natore and Pabna districts, which increases the total cost.
Deputy Director of Rajshahi DAE Deb Dulal Dhali said 90 per cent jute which is cultivated in the district is Indian "GRO 524" variety. Though jute was less cultivated this year but the production was good. Jute from 10 per cent of the total land has been harvested so far. The yield in per bigha is 2.38 metric tons of jute.
