Apprehension over quality of jute for lack of water

RANGPUR, Sept 08: The jute growers in different areas under Rangpur agriculture region are concerned as they are facing serious problem in processing of the crop due to lack of sufficient water in the water bodies of the region.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources, around 58,250 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation this year in five districts of the region.

The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat.

Presently, the peasants are in trouble as it has become difficult for them to process raw jute by rotting owing to inadequate water in water bodies caused by scanty rainfall during the last one month. As a result a large quantity of jute plants is yet to be processed.

Obaidul Mia (45) at Jaigirhat area under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur said that he cultivated jute on one bigha of land this year and witnessed a good yield.

But now he is facing problem in rotting the golden fibre due to shortage of water in the water bodies caused by inadequate rainfall, he added. He expressed apprehension over the quality of the golden fibre.

Though the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) took an initiative to introduce ribbon retting system, a technology for rotting jute plants with less water to get quality fibre but inadequate training and unwillingness of the farmers the method is yet to get popularity among them, sources alleged.

It is alleged that due to lack of measures for its promotion the method has not become popular among the local farmers.

DAE, Rangpur sources said the officials of the department are trying to make the technology popular among the farmers by providing adequate training and equipments.

DAE supplied ribbon retting machines among the farmers of the region for ensuring better quality of jute. But the farmers seem to be reluctant to use ribbon retting method, sources said.

Though there is a paucity of water in water bodies, the cultivators are still interested in adopting traditional method of jute rotting, and for this reason they are failing to get quality jute, resulting in less profit, sources added.

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