Better jute production likely in Rangpur region

The farmers are expecting better jute production as the plants are growing excellent now everywhere in Rangpur agriculture region despite a shortfall in the farming target this season.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, harvest of the fibre crop will begin from the next month.

The farmers have finally cultivated jute on 63,500 lakh hectares of land this season in the region, 1,760 hectares or 2.70 percent less than the fixed target of bringing 65,260 lakh hectares of land under cultivation of crop.

The fixed farming target could not be achieved this season due to high price and crisis of quality seed, prolonged drought-like situation that caused lack of soil moisture hampering sowing of jute seed, crop diversification and some other reasons.

The DAE has fixed a target of producing over 7.10 lakh bales of jute from 65,260 hectares of land for the current season in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts under Rangpur region.

Under the programme, the farmers were to produce over 6.57 lakh bales of 'Tosha' variety jute fibre from 59,509 hectares of land and 53,255 bales of 'Deshi' variety fibre from 5,751 hectares of land in the region this year.

However, the farmers have finally cultivated 'Tosha' variety jute on 58,774 hectares of land and 'Deshi' variety on 4,725 hectares of land in the region this season.

Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam today said the prolonged drought-like situation, high price and inadequacy of quality jute seed mainly hampered timely sowing of jute seed in the beginning of the farming season.

"Necessary assistance, training and inputs have been provided to the farmers for easily separating and rotting of jute fibre adopting latest technologies to ensure better quality so that they could get higher price and become interested in jute cultivation," he said.

Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid said jute farming could get brighter dimension through increasing its production and export, ensuring adequate supply of quality seed, disbursement of more incentives and adopting other effective measures.

"The farmers have started adopting the latest line sowing jute technology using seeder machines saving huge seed and reducing farming costs and ribbon-retting method to get quality fibre and more profit," he added.

Source: BSS.