The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Jute-farmers in Barisal district are expected to get bumper Jute production as they crossed the cultivation target of this golden fiber in southern region in this season.

Jute farmers and merchants urged for extending marketing and consuming facilities of jute, field level training about developed cultivation methods and supply of quality seeds to hold up this trend.

Molla Safiar Rahman, additional director of Agricultural extension department of Barisal said the target of jute cultivation in this year was 1,05, 656 hectares of land with 15 lakhs bell production capacities, which crossing the target reached up to 1,31,126 hectares of land with 15.5 lakhs bell production feasibilities.

AED sources said this year farmers of 11 districts including Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalakati, Barguna, Pirojpur, Bhola, Faridpur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gopalganj under Barisal agricultural region cultivated jute in 1,31,126 hectares of land crossing the target of 1,05,656 hectares of land. Out of this amount production of 1,226 hectares of lands deducted as use of jute as vegetables in Patuakhali, Bhola, and Barguna and Jhalakati districts.

They hoped crossing the production target from 15 lakhs bell to 15.5 lakhs bells of jute fiber and said in last year this region supplied 1.4 lakhs bells of jute fibers, sources said.

Besides farmers also cultivated fabric variety of Mechhta and Kenaf jutes in 17,000 hectares of lands in Barisal, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts of the region. Field level agricultural staffs and farmers said that this year amount of production of Tosha variety of jute fibers was 9 to 12 bells per hectares and Deshi varieties of jute fibers was 7 to 10 bells per hectare.

In this season the price of per mound of jute fiber already reached up to Tk. 1200-1400 per mound comparing the last year price of Tk. 800 and the jute sticks (Pat-khori) also usable as fence and fuel are selling in handsome price.

This inspired the farmer in more cultivation of jute and influencing the life standard of the cultivators.

Rashid Mia, a jute farmer of Gournadi at Barisal-Madaripur district border, said that opening a sub-center of Jute Research Institute now functioning in Faridpur region, needed in Barisal division to give field level training about developed and modern cultivation methods of jute and ensure sufficient supply of standard jute seeds in fair price.

Abul Hossain, a foria ( merchant) and Shayamol Kanti, a dalal(broker) of jute business, claiming expansion of jute marketing in home and abroad approaching environment-friendly use of jute-fiber produced items and also expressed their anxiety about failure in marketing of jute and closure of jute mills one after another may cause darkening the future of jute cultivation .

Officials of agricultural extension department of Barisal denying disclosing identity said closure of jute mills may create negative attitude among the cultivators while they with hard toils inspiring the farmers increasing cultivation of jute.

Local observers said if the local market failed to consume the increased production of jute in fair price, then cultivators not only abstain from jute cultivation, but it may be smuggled to neighboring countries.