The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Barisal

Jute harvests in 11 southern districts under Barisal Agriculture Extension Zone (BAEZ) are complete with production of a sizeable amount of raw jute during the current season.

Official sources told BSS here today that farmers in these districts cultivated jute on 1,31,126 hectares of lands and produced 14,28,679 bales of raw jute within the BAEZ area this year.

Of the total acreage, the Tosha variety was cultivated on 1,25,459 hectares while the local variety on 4,569 hectares. The Tosha variety was produced at the rate of 11 bales per hectare while the local variety at the rate of 8 bales per hectare. The sources said jute was cultivated on 1,550 hectares in Barisal, 227 hectares in Jhalakathi, 56 hectares in Pirojpur, 65 hectares in Patuakhali, 37 hectares in Barguna, 210 hectares in Bhola, 56,255 hectares in Faridpur, 19,138 hectares in Madaripur, 13,637 hectares in Gopalganj, 26,355 hectares in Rajbari and 13,591 hectares in Shariatpur districts.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Agriculture Extension Department (BAED) established several demonstration plots in these districts for familiarising the farmers with scientific methods of jute cultivation. The BADC supplied necessary amount of seeds, fertilisers and insecticides to the farmers for making this year's jute cultivation a success with higher yield.

Besides, both government and private banks disbursed short-term loans among the small and marginal farmers for jute cultivation in these districts.

The farmers are now selling newly harvested jute at Taka 900 to Taka 1,000 per maund (40 kgs) at the local markets. Finer variety of jute is being sold at over Taka 1,200 per maund here now, market sources said.

Jute growers told BSS that they would get better prices of the golden fibre if the market prices go up to Taka 1,500 per maund depending on its varieties and qualities. They urged the government to raise the prices of raw jute to further encourage the farmers towards increased cultivation of the golden fibre for reviving the past glory of the jute sector in this part of the world.