Jute production may cross target in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR APR 18 (BSS): The target of jute cultivation has been fixed on 56335 hectares of land in the district this year. Most of the farmers in the district have already cultivated jute of Desi variety on maximum land. The Department of Agriculture Extension said, the target of jute cultivation has been fixed on 56335 hectares of land of four varieties viz - Deshi, Tosha, Mesta and Kenaf. The upazila wise break up of land, will brought under jute cultivation, is as follows: 7460 hectors in Jamalpur Sadar, 5574 hectares in Sarishabari, 7840 in Melandaha, 12673 hectares in Islampur, 5400 hectares in Dewanganj, 10565 hectares in Madarganj and 6823 hectares in Bokshiganj Upazila. DAE office sources said, the target of Deshi variety of jute was fixed on 9171 hectares of land with a production target of 8.5 bales per hectar, Tosha variety on 44654 hectares with a production target of 11.35 bales per hectar, Mesta variety on 828 hectors with a production target of 8.79 bales per hectar and Kenaf variety on 1682 hectares with a production target of 8.79 bales per hectar. Seeds Marketing office of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) has made a stock of 129254 kilograms jute seed to sell among the farmers through its dealers in Jamalpur and Sherpur district. Of the seeds Deshi variety 76150 kilograms and Tosha variety 53104 kilograms. Against the sale target Seeds Marketing office sold 40500 kilograms seeds of which 16500 kilograms Deshi and 24000 kilograms Tosha. Deputy Director of DAE said most of the farmers preserved jute seed earlier. He said farmers already cultivated jute of Deshi variety. He said others farmer will continue the cultivation of jute till May next after harvesting BRRI 28 paddy. The target of jute production might be acceded this year as the farmers showing interest on it due to fair price of jute last year.