1.45m bales of jute likely to be produced in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, May 11 (BSS): Over 1.45 million (14.53 lakh) bales of jute are expected to be produced from 0.22 million (2.22 lakh) hectares of land in all eight districts in Rajshahi division during the current season.
Target has been set to produce 0.56 million (5.60 lakh) bales of jute from 48,827 hectares of land in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore districts under Rajshahi Agricultural Zone, while 0.89 million (8.93 lakh) bales from 77,986 hectares of land in Bogura, Joypurhat, Pabna and Sirajganj districts under Bogura Agricultural Zone.
Khayer Uddin Mollah, Zonal Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension, said that the field level officials and farmers are very much hopeful about harvesting better jute yield everywhere in the country's northwest region including its vast Barind tract this season.
Currently, the farmers are seen nursing the growing plants of the golden fibre amid much enthusiasm as they get bumper production and lucrative market price for the last couple of years. They are now eager to cultivate more jute.
According to the officials concerned, around 13 to 14 years back, the farmers lost interest in jute cultivation as they did not get fair prices.
Meanwhile, the current market price of jute has made the farmers happy because they never thought about the unprecedented price of the cash crop in the region.
Jute fibre is being sold at Taka 5,200 to 6,000 per mound at different hats and bazaars everywhere in the region creating a hope of getting back in the golden era of the cash crop in near future.
Imran Ali, 54, a farmer of Borgachhi village under Paba upazila, said that market price of jute was Taka 1,600 to 1,800 per mound during the initial stage of harvesting. He added that he also has jute-sticks which give some extra money after meeting his family needs.