Record jute production likely in N-region

RANGPUR, May 22 (BSS): Officials, experts and farmers are expecting a record jute production, as jute was cultivated 4.5 per cent more than the fixed target in the country's northern region this season. Officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said bumper production and excellent jute price of last year encouraged the farmers cultivating jute in more land and the vast tracts of growing jute fields have worn eye-catching looks everywhere. Dinajpur Hub Manager of Cereal Systems Initiatives for South Asia (CSISA) Dr MA Mazid said jute farming got special dimension following fair prices and revival of closed jute mills and disbursement of different incentives and subsidies among farmers. While visiting growing jute fields in different areas, IRRI representative in Bangladesh and chairperson of new CSISA Expansion Board of Management Dr M Joynul Abedin predicted bumper jute production this season. Agri-scientists said the farmers are showing keen interests in cultivating the fibre as the local jute industries have started growing again and demand of the eco-friendly fibre has been increasing very fast at international markets. "For the first time, CSISA has delivered the latest line sowing jute technology by seeder machines in the northern districts saving huge seeds and reducing farming costs to enable the farmers getting bumper productions and more profits," they said. The latest line sowing technology enables the farmers saving 2.48 kg jute seeds per hectare and getting excellent jute yields using only 3.7 kg jute seeds instead of 6.18 kg per hectare as per the farmers' common field level practice, Dr Mazid said today. Addition Director of DAE Md Mohsin Ali said that expansion of jute-based industries including cottage industries and increased exports of jute products from last year has further encouraged the farmers in farming jute in more land. The government has fixed a target of producing 24,64,467 bales jute from 2,23,819 hectares of land during this season in the region where the farmers have brought 2,33,901 hectares under its farming so far, DAE officials said. Assistant Director of Directorate of Jute in Rangpur Shafiqur Rahman told the news agency that the government has taken necessary steps to ensure fair jute price and the farmers were very happy getting jute prices between Tk 1,800 and 2,500 per maund last season.