Farmers are smiling as bumper yield of jute was achieved in Rajari region. Farmers in the area are busy cutting jute, waking it up, removing the fibers, drying it in the sun and then processing it. At present jute is being cut, washed and dried in Rajbari district.
Rajbari, which is famous for its production of golden fiber jute, has cultivated a record amount of jute this season. The yield has been good as the weather is favorable for jute cultivation and there is no flood in advance. Such a bumper crop of jute has brought smiles on the faces of farmers. However, due to the water crisis, the farmers are worried about various problems including the increase in labor cost due to transportation cost and labor crisis.
The farmers upon asking said that jute can be grown in the middle of three months of monsoon season. Jute requires less time and less labor. It costs Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 to cultivate jute in every bigha of land. 8 to 10 mounds of jute is produced per bigha of land. This time jute is being sold in the market at a price ranging from Tk 2,600 to Tk 3,000. This time there was no loss to the jute farmers as there was no flood. They are happy to get good yield of jute and good price in the market.
According to the Rajbari Agriculture Extension Department, jute has been planted in 47,500 hectares of land in the last 2019-20 fiscal year, but in the fiscal year 2020-21, jute has been planted in 47,980 hectares of land.
This time the planting target has been exceeded the prediction. Jute has bumper yields in the region due to quality seeds, balanced application of fertilizers and irrigation facilities. Azahar Nolia, a farmer from Mridhadanga area of Goalanda upazila, said, "I have cultivated jute in 4 bighas of land and about 8 to 10 mounds of jute has been produced in every bigha of land."
Fertilizer, seeds, weeding and cutting of jute, transportation cost for waking up all together cost Tk 10 to 12 thousand. Jute is being sold in the market for between Tk 2,800 and Tk 3,000 per mound. If the prices remain the same till the end of the season, the farmers will benefit a lot and will become more interested in jute cultivation.
Rahim Fakir, a farmer from Rokon Mollah Para of the upazila, said, “Last year we cultivated jute on 5 bighas of land and got good price. We are benefiting from higher yields and higher prices in spite of rising transport costs and labor costs in the labor crisis.
Hopefully next season jute cultivation will be more in this region. Wazed Ali Sheikh of Chardhopakhali village in Khankhanapur union of Sadar upazila said, "Jute has got good yield this time."
But as there is not enough water to cultivate jute in the area, jute has to be raised in remote rivers and water bodies.
In addition, this time their wages are higher in the crisis of agricultural workers. If everything went well, jute could be more profitable this time. But we are happy with what has happened.
Nasir Uddin, a jute trader from Banibah Bazar in Rajbari, said that this time jute has been cultivated extensively in the area. The quality of jute is better this time than last time. However, due to lack of water in some places, the quality of jute has declined due to inability to process it properly.
Rajbari Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Bahuddin said that between 14 unions and one municipal council of Rajbari Sadar Upazila.
This time jute has been cultivated in 10,145 hectares of land. The price is more or less depending on the type of jute. That is why the price of jute of these unions is being sold at 2500 to 3000 Tk. Besides, jute of other unions is being sold at 2 thousand to 2200 Tk.
In this regard, SM Shahid Noor Akbar, Deputy Director, District Agriculture Extension Department, said that the district has surpassed all past records in jute production this year. Our target for this year was to cultivate jute in 47,500 hectares of land and achieved 48,960 hectares. This time the price of jute is also good. Due to bumper yield and good price of jute, farmers will become more interested in cultivating jute in future.