Farmers losing interest in jute cultivation
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
KISHOREGANJ, Aug 21 (UNB) - Farmers of the district are losing interest in jute cultivation as they are not getting fair price of jute.
Official sources said farmers cultivated jute on 8,726 hectares of land last season but this season, jute was cultivated only on 7,618 hectares.
Farmers alleged that they are getting only Tk 300 to Tk 500 from per maund of jute this season against the previous price of Tk 700 to Tk 750.
Manik Miah, a jute cultivator of Tanpara village in Karimganj Upazila said he cultivated jute on 10 decimals of land and his production cost was Tk 1,350.
He is expecting to get 2 to 2.5 maunds of jute from his land. He said he would stop cultivation of jute from next season due to low market price.
He said as per the present market price he would get only Tk 800 to Tk 900 selling jute of his land against the production cost of Tk 1,350.
Other farmers of the district said that they have to depend on jute stalks this season to make up their production cost as they are not getting fair price from jute.
Chief Jute Inspector of the District ATM Alamgir admitted that the farmers are not getting fair price this season and said, "if the situation continues jute cultivation in the district will fall drastically".
Official sources said farmers cultivated jute on 8,726 hectares of land last season but this season, jute was cultivated only on 7,618 hectares.
Farmers alleged that they are getting only Tk 300 to Tk 500 from per maund of jute this season against the previous price of Tk 700 to Tk 750.
Manik Miah, a jute cultivator of Tanpara village in Karimganj Upazila said he cultivated jute on 10 decimals of land and his production cost was Tk 1,350.
He is expecting to get 2 to 2.5 maunds of jute from his land. He said he would stop cultivation of jute from next season due to low market price.
He said as per the present market price he would get only Tk 800 to Tk 900 selling jute of his land against the production cost of Tk 1,350.
Other farmers of the district said that they have to depend on jute stalks this season to make up their production cost as they are not getting fair price from jute.
Chief Jute Inspector of the District ATM Alamgir admitted that the farmers are not getting fair price this season and said, "if the situation continues jute cultivation in the district will fall drastically".