Farmers in Faridpur are busy harvesting and retting jute cultivated on 87,000 hectares this season, with favourable weather boosting hopes of bumper yield. However, growers remain concerned over rising production costs and uncertainty surrounding market prices.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), nearly 90% of farmers in the district cultivated jute this season. The production target has been set at 195,000 metric tonnes, with an expected average yield of 2.24 metric tonnes per hectare.
DAE Deputy Director Shahaduzzaman said favourable weather conditions throughout the growing season have increased the likelihood of achieving the production target.
"We are optimistic about meeting this season's target as weather conditions have remained favourable for jute cultivation," he said.
He added that Faridpur contributes around 30% of the country's total jute production, with the district's fibre widely recognised for its quality.
Despite the positive production outlook, farmers say higher input costs have squeezed their profit margins. Limited rainfall at the beginning of the season forced many to irrigate their fields, while rising prices of fertilisers, fuel and other agricultural inputs increased cultivation expenses. Labour costs have also continued to climb.
Farmers in Saltha, including Hasem Matubbar, Harun Molla and Saiful Islam, said they are currently harvesting and retting their crop but fear incurring losses if they do not receive fair prices at the end of the season.
They urged the government to procure jute at the announced price on time and improve market management to ensure fair returns, saying such measures would encourage farmers to expand jute cultivation.
Faridpur Farmers' Association President Manik Majumdar said strong production alone would not guarantee farmers' livelihoods.
"Ensuring fair prices, improving market access and reducing production costs are essential to making jute cultivation profitable," he said. "That will help preserve Faridpur's position as one of Bangladesh's leading jute-producing districts."
