Rain accelerates sowing of jute seeds in N-region

FE Team | Published: May 03, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RANGPUR, May 2 (BSS): The farmers have become busy now in sowing jute seeds after recent rainfall everywhere in the northern region already bringing fifty per cent of the targeted land area under its cultivation, official sources said.
Due to the prolonged drought-like situation that caused lack of soil moisture, sowing of jute seed was hampered almost everywhere in the region and frequent downpours in the recent days have eased the situation bringing relief to the farmers.
According to the sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), a target of producing over 2.41 million (24.11 lakh) bales of jute from over 0.22 million hectares of land has been fixed for the current season in the northern Bangladesh.
The farmers have been continuing sowing of jute seed in full swing everywhere and have already brought over 0.11 million hectares of land, fifty per cent of the fixed farming target, until Thursday, the sources added.
Under the programme, farmers will produce 2.23 million bales of 'Tosha' variety of jute fibre from 0.20 million hectares of land, 0.14 million bales of 'Deshi' variety of fibre from 16,836 hectares and 30,228 bales of 'Mechhta' variety of jute from 3,664 hectares in the region this year.
Farmer Echahaq Ali, Aiyub Hossain, Ivy Begum and Sunil Chandra of Mominpur village here said they have already sowed the jute seeds by Thursday after the recent rainfall brought adequate moisture in their fields.
Talking to the news agency, horticulture specialist of the DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said farmers easily procured quality jute seeds from Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), other organisations and dealers this time.
But, they had to start sowing of the jute seed little late for lack of adequate moisture as a result of prolonged drought-like situation and they are expected to complete the sowing process in the coming weeks.
Agriculture scientist of international repute and Associate Director-Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid asked the farmers to complete sowing of jute seeds as early as possible to get better production with quality jute fibre.
He also advised the farmers to use the Six-Line Pick-Up Jute Seeding Method to cultivate the crop using only 2 kg seed per acre to save huge seed as they generally use 2.5 to 3.5 kg jute seed per acre using the traditional methods.
Deputy Director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed said jute cultivation has got a special dimension following various time-befitting steps taken by the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by reopening of the closed jute mills and increasing export.