RANGPUR, Aug 31: The jute growers at different areas under Rangpur agriculture region are still showing their interest in the traditional method of rotting jute instead of using ribbon retting method.
According to sources with the beginning of jute harvest season it was found that growers across the region busy decomposing their harvested jute on the water bodies, as they were not willing to use ribbon retting method, a technology which ensures a better quality of golden fibre.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Rangpur official sources, around 58,250 hectares of land were brought under the jute cultivation this year in five districts of the region. The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat.
DAE official sources said ribbon retting is a method to separate fibre from jute stick and rot those in ditch to get the expected golden fibre.
This technology needs less water for rotting jute stick than the traditional method. By using this technology the separated fibres are kept under water of ditch to decompose those properly. The size of a ditch should be six metre in length, two metre in width and one metre in depth where fibres are kept under water for at 12 to 15 days.
Akmal Hossain, a jute farmer of Mirzapur village in Mithapukur upazila under Rangpur district told FE that ribbon retting method might be simple but most of the peasants of his area do not have adequate knowledge about it due to lack of training on the method. As a result they seem to be reluctant to use such technology, he added.
DAE official sources said though farmers were informed about the technology but most of them are showing their aversion to adopt it. This year farmers are getting adequate water in water bodies. That was another reason for their unwillingness, sources further said.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
