Good yield, better prices boost jute farming at Baraigram

BARAIGRAM, NATORE, Sept 20: Jute farmers in Baraigram Upazila are enjoying a good season as the crop has produced a bumper yield and fetched significantly higher prices than last year.

New jute has started arriving at local markets, with farmers currently selling it for Tk 4,100-4,200 per maund, compared with Tk 2,700-2,900 at the beginning of last season.

Farmers initially sold this year's new jute for Tk 3,700-3,800 per maund. Overall, they are now getting around Tk 1,200-1,400 more per maund than last year.

“Jute production has been good this year and we are also getting a good price. I am making an additional Tk 1,200 or so per maund by selling the new jute. It would be very good if such prices continued,” said Shahidul Islam, a farmer in Taranagar.

Saidur Rahman, a jute farmer from Bharatpur Village, said he was getting around 600-700 bundles of jute sticks per bigha.

“Each 100 jute sticks are selling for at least Tk 500. So, besides the good price of jute, selling the sticks is giving us an additional source of income,” he said.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the target for jute cultivation this year was 10,200 hectares. But farmers exceeded the target and cultivated jute on 10,875 hectares, encouraged by satisfactory prices at the end of last season.

Favourable weather has also helped, with average yields reaching 8-9 maunds per bigha. Adequate rainfall ensured sufficient water for retting, unlike last year when farmers faced severe difficulties due to a shortage of water.

However, farmers said their production costs had increased compared with last year, particularly due to higher labour wages.

Workers were available for around Tk 700 a day last year, while farmers now have to pay Tk 900 a day for harvesting, retting and stripping jute. As a result, the production cost has risen by Tk 200-300 per maund, from around Tk 2,500 last year to Tk 2,700-2,800 this year.

The Laxmikole market has become busy with jute traders following the good harvest.

Anisur Rahman, a trader who came to the market on Thursday to buy jute, said they send jute purchased there to wholesale markets in Faridpur, Khulna, Jashore, Bogura and Kushtia.

“Demand for jute is high in those markets this year, which is keeping prices strong. Farmers are getting fair prices, while we are also able to buy jute at higher rates,” he said.

However, farmers are worried that prices could fall once the supply increases further.

Abdul Quddus of Bajitpur Village and seven to eight other farmers said they were happy with the current prices but were concerned about a possible decline in prices in the coming days as more jute enters the markets.

Husneara Khatun, Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer, said farmers were in a profitable position this year because of favourable weather, good yields and satisfactory prices.

“If farmers continue to get good prices, they will remain interested in cultivating jute in the coming years,” she said.