The demand of jute sticks is incredibly high in Chuadanga’s Jibannagar. The demand of jute sticks is higher than jute in this area. The scenario is the same this year as well.
Jute sticks are being sold at a higher price in this area from the beginning of jute harvesting this season. It is not only used as the firewood anymore, but it also has a great demand as the fence of betel leaf (Paan) gardens.
Sources said the betel leaf farmers are expanding the area of betel leaf growing as they made good profit in the previous days. The farmers are making new gardens for growing betel leaf in the area. Many farmers are leasing lands to make betel leaf gardens as they don’t have their own lands. Sometimes the farmers experience loss due to many obstacles while growing betel leaf. However, facing all odds, many farmers are now self-sufficient growing betel leaf.
The number of new betel leaf gardens is increasing as there is less profit in farming other crops. Farmers can make good profit from betel leaf farming. Moreover, employment opportunity is created at betel leaf garden as well.
Many betel leaf farmers are living happily with their families. Although the farming starts in the winter, many farmers start preparing and repairing their betel leaf gardens early. Earlier, farmers were used to using bamboo in the betel leaf garden for the growth of betel leaf plants. However, due to the excessive price of bamboo, they are now using jute sticks instead of bamboo. The farmers also use jute sticks as firewood. Now, they are using it at the betel leaf gardens as well.
Jute farmer of Monohorpur village, Abdus Sattar, said the jute farmers of the village started harvesting jute. Many of them are drying these. In the meantime, the buyers are coming to them to buy jute sticks. Some of the farmers are taking advance money from them and selling the jute sticks.
Betel leaf farmer Shahjahan said once bamboo was used for the growth of the betel leaf plants. As the price of bamboo has increased unusually, jute sticks are being used instead of bamboo at the betel leaf gardens.
Jute stick trader of Jibannagar, Mojid, said that he collects jute sticks from the farmers throughout the year and sells these to the betel leaf garden owners. The demand of jute stick has increased as the farmers are using jute sticks instead of bamboo at their gardens.
