GOPALGANJ, June 11: The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken a massive programme to cultivate jute on 23,801 hectares of land in the district with a production target of 51,702 tonnes this year.
Farmers cultivated tosa jute on 23,302 hectares of land, local variety on 17 hectares and masta jute on 482 hectares, according to the DAE.
A large number of 124,000 small and marginal farmers are involved in the jute farming in the district, sources said.
Raju Mir, a jute farmer of Puran Manikdha village under Gopalganj Sadar Upazila in the district, said he cultivated jute origin Tosa-4 on local five bighas of land.
"But, jute production will be good if the weather remains unchanged. I will get a good profit," he added.
Nazma Haque, sub-assistant agriculture office (SAAO), Latifpur union block No. 23 under Sadar Upazila, told the FE that origin Robi-1 & JBRO-Tosa-4 is more expectation for farmers in this region because the origin is high yielding variety and comparatively production cost is less but return is good, Nazma added.
Hafijur Mir, another jute farmer of same village under Sadar Upazila in the district said he cultivated jut origin Robi-1 on local two bighas of land this year at a cost of Tk 60,000.
"If the weather condition remains fabourable, I will get nearly 35 maunds of jute, which market price is Tk 105,000," he added.
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director (agriculture) in Gopalganj, told the FE that origin Robi-1 jute is more profitable cash crop, which cost is comparatively less but return is big.
"Soil and weather are fabourable for jute farming in this region and local farmers are more laborious, the DD added.
Sharif Mir, another jute farmer of village Char Manikdha under Sadar upazila in the district, said he cultivated jute on one bigha of land this year.
But the grow condition is satisfactory and I think I will get 16 maunds of jute, which market price is Tk 48,000, but production cost is Tk 28,000, Sharif added.
Mafroza Akther, upazila agriculture officer (UAO) in Gopalganj Sadar, told the FE that jute is seasonal favourable crop in this region and growers get good profit every year this rainy season from jute farming.
Besides, growers have got always technical and other support timely from my office, she added.
Some farmers of Latifpur area told the FE if growers get fair price of jute, they will be more interested in jute cultivation.
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