RAJSHAHI, Aug 4: Low prices of jute in the local markets of Bagha upazila in the district have come as a big frustration for the farmers this year.
As the prices of jute fell abnormally, the growers are now worried whether they would be able to recoup the production cost.
Farmers who come to sell jute at different haats (weekly markets) return home frustrated because of low prices of jute.
As against Tk 2,000 - 2,200 a maund last year, farmers get only Tk 1,300-1,500 this season from the sale of jute, market sources and field reports said.
Meanwhile, middlemen Munsad Ali and Khalil Uddin Sheikh said farmers of the area separate the fibres from the stem in ordinary way that worsens the quality of fibre and declines the price in markets.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said that around 2,380 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation in the upazila this year that are less than the last year. Farmers reduced jute cultivation this year as they counted heavy loss last year due to low price of the crop in the local markets.
"A labourer is paid Tk. 300 to Tk. 400 per day. More processing is needed for jute to be market-ready. "If proper price is not fixed, farmers do not get profit", said Kapil Uddin, a farmer of Fatehpur village in the upazila.
"I was compelled to sale jute at low price as I badly needed money to continue Aman cultivation and meet up family expenses," said another farmer of the area.
Farmers are not getting the fair price as the government did not fix any rate and the middlemen are purchasing jute at low prices from the growers, he alleged.
This year, the mill authorities have not started purchase the item till the first week of August, said local jute traders and farmers.
Besides, eight private owned jute mills and a number of exporters and stockists in the region are also showing reluctance to purchase raw jute.
Farmers also said that too much rain and water logging protracted the growth of jute plants this season that declined the production of jute in few areas of the upazila.
Contacted, Bagha Upazila Agriculture Officer Sabina Begum said that the jute production has been hoppled due to early rip-off of the crop.
She expressed hope that the jute price would higher gradually as the traders already have started to buy. ritushar.ru@gmail.com
