Staff Correspondent:

Growers are delighted with the satisfactory prices and yield of jute this season in Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha, all of which fall under the Rangpur agriculture region.

The prices of the cash crop, depending on their quality, surged to Tk 3,600 to Tk 4,300 per maund from last year’s Tk 2,100 to Tk 2,800 per maund in different markets in the five districts.

Farmers of the agriculture region told journalist they suffered losses due to the low prices of jute last year, but this year they are able to recover owing to excellent prices.

According to sources from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Rangpur, jute has been cultivated on around 48,857 hectares of land this year in the Rangpur agriculture region.

This year the region has produced a bumper harvest of 660,921 bales of jute and the significant increase in prices this year made the farmers optimistic about cultivating the golden fiber on more land next year, according to sources.

However, some cultivators said the price of fertilisers and pesticides were higher than what they had expected although the price of jute is good.

Growers also expressed disappointment due to higher labour cost.

Farmers said that vital reasons for the good yield and higher price of the cash crop are favourable weather and its growing demand this year.

Farmer Sahjahan, who came to the Ranipukur market at Mithapukur Upazila in Rangpur, said “The price of jute is satisfactory this year and its quality has also improved. I have sold 10 maunds of jute at a price of Tk 3,900 per maund,” he added.

Ojiar Rahman, a jute farmer from Haragachh area of Kaunia Upazila in Rangpur, said that he got 12 maunds of jute by cultivating the crop on 40 decimals of land this season.

He sold the crop at Tk 48,000 for Tk 4,000 per maund. He said he is satisfied with the price.

Agriculturist Md. Enamul Haque, district training officer, DAE, Rangpur, said, “Due to congenial weather condition, the production of jute in this region has been good. The price of jute per maund has increased this year compared that of last year. As a result, farmers’ interest is also increasing.”

Various varieties of jute have been cultivated in low-lying and char areas of the district, he further said.

The cultivators were given necessary advices as well as assistances in this regard, he added.