Fortune has favoured the jute cultivators of Barisal division as they were getting smart price of the golden fibre of jute despite the bumper production that generally brings about the demand low.
Resulting, the farmers of 11 districts under the division have been able to recoup their production cost as well as making good profit that would increase their financial capabilities to cultivate jute in bulk in the upcoming season.
Mojibul Haque Mia, additional director of Barisal Region Agricultural Extension Department, said farmers were interested to cultivate the crop on vast track of land as it has been bringing a good profit for them for last four years.
Basically the government’s patronizing attitude in producing environment-friendly articles with the jute-fibre and finally increased demand led the price hike, the official opined.
“The volume of jute cultivation is 194,880 hectre that may exceed the 201,165 hactres target while one hectre production is projected about 11 bell (1 bell= 5 maund), said Rafikul Islam, deputy director of Barisal region AED.
Field level agricultural staffs and farmers said the cultivation cost on one bigha of land was Tk12,000-15,000 while the average fibre output is 10-14 maund worth Tk25,000-30,000 in this season.
A farmer named Yusuf Ali of Gournadi said they were hope of getting better price of the jute sticks (Pat-khori), used as fence and fuel, than the previous year.
The cultivators related to the field urged to the authorities concerned to set up more jute research institute in field level to teach them the modern cultivation methods of jute and ensure sufficient supply of standard jute seeds timely in bargain price.
