A labourer working at a jute godown in the Natun Bazar area of Magura town —FE Photo MAGURA, Sept 15: Jute growers in the district are frustrated over the low market price of their newly-harvested crop.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said about 32,555 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation in the district this season. The total production has stood at 81377.5 tonnes.
Farmer Mrinal Dey of Gangnalia village under Magura Sadar said, "I cultivated jute on two bighas of land this season and got 20 maunds of production. I had to sell my crop at Tk 1,600 per maund. But the price does not even cover my production cost."
Another farmer Taleb Hossen of Moghi village said jute price was Tk 2,000 per maund in the local market two weeks ago. But now the price has come down to Tk 1,600.
He said, "Middlemen are dominating the market by making syndicate."
"Last year we sold jute at Tk 2,200 per maund. This year, we have rotten jute plants in irrigation water which increases production. Consequently our production cost is much more higher compared to last year. But this year we are getting lower price for jute than the last year", he added.
Trader Mantu Shaha of Notun Bazar area of the district town denied the allegation of forming syndicate.
He said the BJMC is yet to pay our dues for last three years. In this situation, I have decided not to purchase jute. I have to recover Tk 0.5 million dues from BJMC as early as possible."
Assistant Manager of Magura Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) Moshiur Rahman said, "It is true that we did not pay dues of jute traders for the last three years."
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