Framers in 10 southwestern districts are expecting a bumper jute production this season thanks to favourable weather conditions and a “better return” from the market.
Agriculture officials are also hopeful the jute yield may cross the target after an increase in cultivation acreage.
Sources at the Khulna Agriculture Extension Department said a target had been set to produce about 2,211,552 bales of jute from 203,063 hectares of land in the districts this season, but farmers have reportedly cultivated jute on more land than was targeted.
Tusher Kranti Biswas, a local agriculture officer, said on an average jute growers have to spend Tk10,000 per single hectare of land, against what they get 50 maunds of jute, worth Tk75,000-80,000.
M Jahangir Hossain, an official at the Platinum Jubilee Jute Mill in Khalishpur of Khulna, said farmers had already started harvesting jute and selling “at better prices than last season.”
Jahangir further said Tossa jute (local) is selling at Tk1550 per maund.