Good yields, higher prices cheer Santhia's jute farmers

SANTHIA, PABNA, July 29: Farmers in Santhia Upazila of Pabna are enjoying a profitable jute season this year, thanks to bumper yields and strong market prices driven by favourable weather and lower incidence of crop diseases.

With harvesting in full swing, farmers are now busy retting, extracting fibre and drying the golden fibre for sale.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Santhia, the cultivation target for the current season was set at 7,845 hectares, while farmers brought 7,850 hectares under jute cultivation. The upazila is expected to produce around 18,704 tonnes of jute fibre this season.

Alamgir Hossain of Gaurigram cultivated jute on about three bighas of land, while Wazed Ali of Jorgacha grew the crop on two bighas.

They said cultivating one bigha of jute, including the costs of seed, irrigation, fertiliser, pesticides, labour, harvesting, retting, fibre extraction and drying, cost around Tk 24,000 to Tk 25,000.

Average yields ranged between eight and 10 maunds per bigha, while raw jute is currently selling for Tk 4,200 to Tk 4,300 per maund, allowing growers to make a good profit.

Farmer Alhaj Pramanik of Karigar Para said he cultivated jute on nearly three bighas this year.

"The yield has been excellent, and the market price is also good. We have made a decent profit from jute cultivation this season," he said.

Santhia Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahmudul Hasan attributed the bumper harvest to favourable weather, lower pest and disease pressure, and timely crop management by farmers.

"Our office has been providing farmers with regular technical advice throughout the season. Combined with good prices, the strong harvest has made jute cultivation profitable this year," he said.