The plight of Magura jute growers has mounted to a large extent this year because a drought like situation has been prevailing in the district over the last few day days.
People related to jute cultivation are assuming that farmers of the district might loss over Tk50 crore for lack of rainfall.
According to Agriculture Extension Department (DAE), a total of 28,250 hectares of land has been brought under jute cultivation in the district this year.
Jute cultivation started in the district in February. Since then, farmers have been suffering from lack of water and in this period farmers could not see a single drop of rainfall.
Jute growers said jute cultivation requires heavy rainfall. For want of rainfall jute growers in the district are being compelled to irrigate their land with irrigation pumps that have hiked production cost abnormally.
Many farmers of the district have already irrigated their land twice, but they did not get expected results. In many places, jute plants have turned yellow as marginal farmers do not have capability to water jute plants with additional costs.
If growers irrigate their land with extra cost Tk50 crore will be required to cultivate 28,250 hectares jute fields.
Monirul Islam, a farmer of Jagdal village under Magura sadar upazila, said“We are facing difficulties to grow jute in want of rainfall. If I knew such drought like situation would prevail I would not cultivate jute. I have cultivated jute on four bighas of land this year. I have borrowed money on high interest from local money lender to irrigate my land.”
“I am very much worried about my fate, if I could not repay money, what will happen with my family?”
Rafiqul Islam, a farmer of Gangnalia village under Magura sadar upazila, said, “Last year there was adequate rainfall in the district during jute season. For this, we did not need irrigation. In spite of low production cost we could not make profit from jute last year. But this year our production cost has increased at a large scale in want of rainfall. In this situation, how shall we make profit from jute?”
An official of Magura DAE Noab Ali in want of rainfall jute growers in the district are watering land by irrigation pump. As huge amount of land have been brought under jute cultivation in the district this year, huge amount of underground water is being lifted every day through irrigation pump. Such lifting of underground water was causing adverse effect on environment.
When contacted, Deputy Director Mokhlesur Rahman said jute growers might count huge loss this year as they were not getting sufficient water.