Rangpur jute growers not using ribbon retting method

RANGPUR, July 28: The jute growers of different upazilas in Rangpur district are rotting their jute plants in rivers and other water bodies, causing pollution of water, as they are yet to get familiar with ribbon retting method, a technology for rotting jute plants with less water to get quality fibre.
Ribbon retting is a method to separate fibre from jute stick and rot those in ditches to get the desired golden fibre. In this technology the separated fibre will be kept under water to decompose those properly, DAE official sources.  
 The size of a ditch should be six metre in length, two metre in breadth and one metre in depth where fibers are kept under water for at least 12 to 15 days.
Though the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) took an initiative to reintroduce the system inadequate training and reluctance of the farmers the method is yet to get much popularity among them, sources added.   
Helal Miah, a jute cultivator of Sripur village under Mithapukur upazila told The Financial Express that they are yet to get acquainted with the system, some farmers were informed about the new system but they are not eager to adopt the system.
A number of jute growers in Kawnia upazila said, if they get proper and adequate training on it the method will certainly get popularity among the farmers.  
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