SB-Sujon:
Farmers are worried about their food supply for the year despite the increase in new jute prices in Lalmonirhat but due to low yields due to heavy rains. Like other flood-hit districts in the northern region, new jute of the season has started to appear in the market of Lalmonirhat. Although the market price is better than last year, the yield has decreased due to heavy rains and floods, said the concerned people.
Farmers claim that this year the height of most jute plants has decreased by 2 to 5 feet compared to normal. As a result, the fiber production has decreased by an average of 40 to 60 kg per bigha of land. Although the height of jute plants is usually 7 to 13 feet, this time the desired height has not been achieved in many cases.
Small quantities of new jute have started being traded at various union-level markets in Sadar, Aditmari, Kaliganj, Hatibandha and Patgram upazilas of the district. It has been observed on the ground that in some places the height of jute plants has increased to only 3 to 5 feet due to waterlogging in the land, while in others it has increased to 6 to 8 feet. Farmers are busy in ginning, dehusking, washing, drying and marketing the jute.
Regarding the current market situation of jute, Akkas Ali, a jute trader in the district’s Sadar, told BSS that last year, jute was bought at Tk 3,400 to 3,800 per maund at the beginning of the season, but this time it is being bought at Tk 4,000 to 4,400 at the beginning of the season. As a result, the market price of jute is slightly higher this time compared to last year.
Aditmari upazila farmer Hosem Ali said that he sold jute at Tk 4,000 per maund. Farmer Kallol Roy of Kaliganj Upazila said, “Although the current market price is satisfactory, I am uncertain about how long this price will remain. Because, more jute is yet to be harvested.”
Talking to BSS about jute production and income and expenditure, farmer and pesticide trader Afiar Rahman (42) of Panchagram Union of Sadar Upazila said, “It costs about 16,000 taka to cultivate jute on one bigha (33 percent) of land. However, due to excessive rains this year, the normal height growth of jute plants has been disrupted, resulting in a decrease in yield. About 6 maunds of jute have been produced from one bigha of land. According to the current market price, 6 maunds of jute can be sold for 4,000 taka per maund and get 24,000 taka. Excluding the production cost, the profit on one bigha of land after three months of work is only 8,000 taka.”
He also said, “It is difficult to meet the expenses of a family of six members with the profit made by cultivating jute on three bigha of land. Therefore, the government needs to take effective initiatives to financially support farmers.”
Rahim Mia, a farmer from Hatibandha Upazila, said that it costs about 2,500 taka to produce jute per maund. 6 to 7 maunds of jute have been produced per bigha. Although the price has increased slightly, the profit is not very high.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, jute has been cultivated on 4,045 hectares of land in the district this season, which is 730 hectares more than last year. This year, the production target has been set at 49,549 metric tons.
Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Khandaker Sohael Ahmed said that the normal height growth of jute plants has been hampered due to excessive rainfall during seed sowing and seedling growth.
Deputy Director of the District Department of Agricultural Extension Dr. Md. Saikhul Arifin said that the market price of new jute is good. However, although production has decreased in some areas due to excessive rainfall, there is hope of satisfactory yield in many places.
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