RANGPUR, Sept 15 (BSS): Farmers under five districts of Rangpur agriculture region are happy with an excellent market price of the newly harvested jute amid achieving a better production of the crop in the current season.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the farmers produced over 0.58 million (5.83 lakh) bales of jute in all five districts of Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat of the region this season.
Currently, the farmers are selling their newly produced jute fibre at rates between Taka 1,500 and 2,250 per mound (every 40 kilogram) depending on the varieties and quality of the fibre.
Horticulture specialist of DAE at its regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said a target of producing over 0.68 million (6.83 lakh) bales of jute from 61,625 hectares of land was fixed for the region this year.
The fixed target included production of 0.63 million (6.33 lakh) bales of 'Tosha' variety of jute fibre from 56,300 hectares of land, 49,191 bales of 'Deshi' variety fibre from 5,295 hectares and 253 bales of 'Mechta' variety of jute fibre from 30 hectares of land.
However, the farmers had cultivated jute on 49,657 hectares of land, less by 11,968 hectares than the fixed farming target.
"Of the target, the farmers had cultivated 'Tosha' variety of jute on 45,881 hectares, 'Deshi' variety on 3,361 hectares and 'Mechta' variety on 415 hectares in the region," Islam said.
He identified inadequacy of quality jute seed, excessive rainfalls during seed sowing period, cultivation of Aus rice on more lands as reasons behind shortfall in achieving the fixed farming target.
"The farmers produced 31,336 bales of 'Deshi' variety jute with yield rate of 9.32 bales per hectare, over 5.48 lakh bales of jute with 11.96 bales per hectare and 3,316 bales of 'Mechta' variety jute with 7.99 bales per hectare this season," Mesbahul added.
Deputy director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said necessary assistance and training were provided to the farmers for easily separating and rotting of jute fibre adopting latest technologies to ensure better quality of the fibre.
"Adequate supply of quality jute seed and popularisation of latest farming technologies could further increase production and export of jute as demand of the eco-friendly fibre is increasing all over the globe as a substitute to the synthetic fibre," he said.
"Cultivation of jute got a newer dimension after the present government declared jute as the national agricultural product and made use of jute sacs mandatory in various sectors," Moniruzzaman added.
Talking to the news agency at different jute markets in the district on Friday, farmers Aminul Islam, Barkat Ullah and Abdul Kaiyum expressed satisfaction over selling their 'Tosha' variety jute fibre at rates between Taka 2,100 and 2,250 per mound.
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