Ribbon retting of jute causing pollution of water bodies in Rangpur

RANGPUR July 27:  Rotting of jute plant is going on in full swing in all the river and water bodies in the district, causing serious pollution of water as most of the farmers of the region are not acquainted with the 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 ditch to get the desired golden fibre. In this technology the separated fibre will be kept under water of ditch 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 but inadequate training and reluctance of the farmers the method is yet to get popularity among them, sources added. It is also alleged that due to lack of measures for its promotion the method has not become successful among the local farmers.  
Abdur Rahman a jute farmer of Mirzapur village under Mithapukur upazila told The Financial Express that they are not so much familiar with the system, some farmers were informed about the new system but they showed their reluctance.    
Ekramul another jute farmer of Chowdhurypara village under Taraganj upazila told the FE though  Ribbon retting method is very easy  but the duration of their training is not sufficient. If they get proper and adequate training on it the method will certainly get popularity among the farmers, he also said.  
According to DAE official sources, DAE supplied ribbon retting machines among the farmers of the region for ensuring better quality of jute. But the farmers are not eager enough to use ribbon retting method, sources alleged.
Jute was cultivated on 12,650 hectares of land in 8 upazilas under the district during the current season. Harvesting of jute is going on in full swing across the region and the farmers are quite satisfied with the yield they have achieved so far, DAE sources said.  
Despite scarcity of water they are still adopting traditional method of jute rotting, and so, they are not getting good quality of jute and deprived of its fair prices, sources alleged.