Rainfall comes as a boon for Magura jute growers

MAGURA, Aug 07: Initially extreme drought made the jute growers concerned over achieving production target in the district this season but adequate rainfall in the very beginning of the last month (August) came as a boon for them.

Sufficient rainfall boosted jute production and finally the production target was also achieved in the district.

Newly-harvested jute has started appearing in the local markets.

Reasonable price of jute has brought smile on the faces of the jute growers.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Magura, sources informed the FE that they had brought 34,067 hectares of land under jute cultivation in the district this season with an output target of 486,642 bales. The production target has also been achieved in the district.

Jalil Sardar, a farmer of Amuria village under Magura sadar upazila, said, "I brought my three bigha land under jute cultivation this season. I have got about 30 maunds of jute. Jute is now being sold in the local market at Tk 2,800 to 3,000 per maund. I have earned Tk 85,000 by selling my jute. My production expenditure is Tk40,000. The rest Tk45,000 is my profit.

Another farmer Sazzad Hossen of Kullia village under sadar upazila said, "I have brought my two bigha land under jute cultivation this season. I have sold my jute and earned a profit of Tk 25,000 excluding my production cost of Tk25,000. As existing price of jute is satisfactory, I have been able to make a profit."

Montu Shaha, a jute trader of Notun Bazar area in Magura town, said, "We are purchasing jute from farmers at Tk2,800 to Tk3,000 per maund on cash payment . We are happy with the existing jute price."

Contacted, agriculturist Shafiqur Rahman, executive director of Palli Prokriti, an agriculture and environment-based NGO, said, Once called golden fibre of Bangladesh, jute is our glorious heritage. Through a proper policy we can earn huge foreign currencies by exporting jute. Moreover, jute cultivation helps enhance land fertility through fall of jute leaves. The prevailing situation will encourage Magura jute growers to extend jute cultivation."

When contacted, DAE, Magura deputy director Dr Md Yashin Kabir said newly-harvested jute has started to hit the markets. Production target of jute has been achieved and existing price of jute is encouraging the growers .

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