Jute yield exceeds target in Pabna

Our Correspondent PABNA, July 16: Jute cultivation in nine upazilas of Pabna district has exceeded target in current season owing to favourable climatic condition. According to official sources, jute, the golden fibre of Bengal has been cultivated on 38,721 hectares of land (Tosha 3,800 hectares and Deshi 721 hectares) while the target was for 34,166 hectares. 30,500 hectares in Pabna district were brought under the cultivation last year. Official sources said jute has been cultivated on 8,910 hectares of land in Sujanagar upazila, 8,300 hectares in Santhia, 1,700 hectares in Bera, 8,300 hectares in Sadar, 4,110 hectares in Atghoria, 1,420 hectares in Ishwardi, 6,130 hectares in Chatmhohar, 570 hectares in Bhangura and 721 hectares in Faridpur upazila. Deputy Director of Agriculture said that adequate rainfall in the sowing period favoured the farmers and the prices of jute last year encouraged them to cultivate this cash crop. If everything goes well 4 lakh 5 hundred bales of jute will be produced in the current season, the DD said. Farmers of various areas in the district are happy with their jute plant growth this year because the last year they got good price and profit from their production. Sohrab Hossain of Mazidpur village under sadar upazila said that last year he had sold his jute at Tk 2,400 per maund. He cultivated 6 bighas of land and he is expecting a good production and price this year. However, an unofficial source said that most farmers have cultivated jute by taking 'Dadon' from a section of money lenders who are to take away a major portion of the produce.