Jute growers and traders in Magura face losses as the National Jute Policy (NJP) is not implemented by the government properly. Jute traders are not buying jute from the farmers this year, because many of them didn't receive any payment from BGMC after supplying the corporation with jute, which they had bought from the farmers last year.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Magura informed, a total of 32,730 hectares of land was brought under jute cultivation in four upazilas of the district this year.
Visiting the Langalbandh , Gangnalia , Nohata and Nakol bazar in the district, this reporter found that many farmers were going back to their home with unsold jute, because of low price. Those who could sell were selling them at a loss, because of the want of customers.
Abu Taleb, a farmer from Amuria village under, said he cultivated jute in 0.266 hectares of land this year, and faced loss as he had to sell it for Tk1250 per maund, when his production cost, after adding the transport cost, exceeded Tk1300 per maund.
He also said he has decided not to cultivate jute in the coming year.
Magura jute traders sources informed, most of them were showing reluctance in purchasing jute because they were going through a hard time as Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BGMC) was yet to pay their bills from last year.
In the meantime, the traders who had supplied jute to BJMC this year did not get any payment yet.
Tipu Shultan, a jute trader, opined that government has to implement the policy properly. 13% of the total jute made articles were being used for domestic purposes at present, and this percetage should be upgraded to 25% by 2021.
But the current situation did not give much hope for that, as polythene bag still floods the local markets. On the other hand, government's order to use of gunny bags for carrying rice, flour, wheat and sugar, was violated as plastic and synthetic bags were being used everywhere.
Consequently, gunny bags were going unsold in the warehouse of BGMC.
Moshiul Azam, a jute trader from Shatrijitpur village said he purchased jute from farmers last year and supplied it to local BGMC center, but he was yet to be paid Tk5 lakhs by the corporation. In this situation he was unable to buy jute this year, as he had no cash.
Earlier, farmers and traders had a scope to sell jute to Nishong, the only jute mill in the district, on cash payment.
But the mill authority is not purchasing jute this year. Requesting anonymity, an official of Nishong jute mill told to this reporter that because of capital shortage, they were unable to purchase jute this year.
Huge amount of processed jute from last year was lying unsold in their warehouse. Moreover, despite repeated attempts they failed to get loan from bank. The official said they could purchase jute this year, if they were provided with some bank loans.
When contacted, Md Shafiqul Islam, manager of Shonali Bank's Magura branch admitted it and said they were not sanctioning loan for jute traders now, as they did not receive such instructions from the high ups.
Manosh Kumar Mollik, an official of Magura BGMC, admitted that they were yet to pay last year's due, as huge amount of jute made articles were lying unsold in their warehouse. However, the government has declared to sanction Tk80 cores for BGMC, which might solve the problem.
