BSS, Rangpur :
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 6,77,619 bales of jute from 58,124 hectares of land in Rangpur agriculture region during the current season.
The DAE officials said enthusiastic farmers are sowing jute seeds on their crop lands in all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari across the region. Under the programme, farmers will produce 6,35,208 bales of ‘Tosha’ variety jute from 53,690 hectares of land, 33,863 bales of ‘Deshi’ variety from 3,574 hectares, 2,555 bales of ‘Mechta’ variety from 350 hectares and 5,993 bales
of ‘Kenaf’ variety of jute from 510 hectares of land.
Farmers will cultivate jute on 9,768 hectares of land in Rangpur, 15,985 hectares in Gaibandha, 19,602 hectares in Kurigram, 4,599 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 8,170 hectares of land in Nilphamari districts this season.
“Farmers have already completed sowing of jute seeds on 16,843 hectares of land till Tuesday,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Tauhidul Ikbal told the national news agency.
Tender jute plants are growing well amid favourable climatic conditions and frequent rainfalls as the process of sowing of jute seeds has got full momentum in the region.
“After getting high yielding varieties of jute seeds and other assistance from the government this time and fair prices of jute during the last two consecutive seasons, farmers are expected to cultivate jute on more lands this season,” he said.
The farmers are enhancing cultivation and production of jute and getting fair prices of the eco-friendly fibre since the government declared jute as national agricultural product and made use of jute sacs mandatory in various sectors to increase its local demand.
The DAE and other related organisations and dealers supplied locally produced high quality and imported jute seeds to the farmers alongside providing latest technologies to expand its cultivation.
“The DAE is providing required training to farmers for separating and rotting of jute fibre adopting latest technologies to ensure better quality and enable them in getting higher prices and revive past glory of the golden fibre,” Ikbal said.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mandal said tender jute plants are now growing superbly and the process of sowing jute seeds continues smoothly amid favourable climatic conditions this season.
Farmers Lokman Ali, Mossarraf Hossain, Uttam Kumar of different villages in Rangpur Sadar upazila said they have already completed sowing of jute seeds and tender plants are growing excellent on their crop fields.
Farmers Mominur Rahman, Rahim Uddin and Mokhlesur Rahman of Badarganj upazila in Rangpur said they are expecting to complete sowing of jute seeds on their crop lands by the next week.
