The farmers produced over 6.94 lakh bales of jute against the production target of 7.10 lakh bales after completing harvest this season in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, a target of producing 7.10 lakh bales of jute from 65,260 hectares of land was fixed for Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts under the region.
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 from 5,751 hectares of land in the region.
The farmers finally cultivated jute on 63,500 lakh hectares of land this season, 1,760 hectares or 2.70 percent less than the fixed target of bringing 65,260 lakh hectares of land under cultivation of crop. “Of the cultivated land area, the farmers brought 58,775 hectares of land under ‘Tosha’ variety jute farming and 4,725 hectares of land under ‘Deshi’ variety farming this season,” said Horticulture Specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
The recent floods, however, damaged jute crop on 1,198 hectares of land belonging to 14,953 farmers of the region causing production losses of 9,001 bales of jute worth Taka 5.52 crore, Mesbahul Islam,said.
The farmers completed jute harvest on the remaining 62,302 hectares of land and produced over 6.94 lakh bales of jute.
“The farmers produced 38,758 bales of ‘Deshi’ variety jute from 4,725 heaters of land with 8.20 bales per hectare and over 6.55 lakh bales of jute from 57,577 hectares of land with 11.38 bales per hectare this season,” Mesbahul added.
Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam said necessary assistance, training and inputs were provided to the farmers for easily separating and rotting of jute fibre adopting latest technologies to ensure better quality of the crop.
“The farmers are getting excellent price of Taka 1,500-1,600 per maund (every 40 kg) for ‘Deshi’ variety and Taka 1,800-2,300 per maund for ‘Tosha’ variety in the local markets because of huge demand and producing quality jute this time,” he added.
Former Associate Director and Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International Dr MA Mazid said adequate supply of quality seed and popularisation of latest farming technologies could further increase production and export of jute and jute products.
