Although the jute farmers in Jhenaidah have been receiving optimum prices this season, they are actually not happy over the yield. Disfavourable climate, especially, rain had damaged their dreams when the plants were growing on the plots in the initial stage. It had reduced the yield to 30 to 40 per cent.
Farmer Alauddin Mia of Bishoykhali Bazer in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila said he sowed seeds of jute on his two bighas of land in the season.
He was expecting 28 to 29 maunds of fibre from the plot. But he was disheartened when the severe rainfall started continuing for days together.
It was rendering the jute plots under water for several times.
Swapan Biswas, a farmer of Bhairaba area at Moheshpur upazila said the farers of his area were disheartened when the jute plants were submerged by excessive rain water.
The rain affected the growing jute pants time and again. It affected the growth as well as yield of the jute in the current season.
Following the price prevailing in the market, the farmers said they were happy over the price, while they could not be benefited as the yield fallen to 30 to 40 per cent due to natural calamity during the early stage.
Some jute vendors in the market when contacted said the farmers are receiving Taka 2,000 to 2,350 for each maund of jute fibre for last few days. The price was 1,900 to 2,100 about a week back. They received Taka 1,600 to 1,800 in past seasons immediate after harvesting.
According to the office of the deputy director of department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah said they had set target to produce 57,480 tones of jute fibre on a total of 22,995 hectares of land in the season. The farmers brought 22,425 hectares of land under the farming in last season.
Upazila wise breakup of the land coverage for jute farming was 5,220 hectares in Jhenidah Sadar, 1,600 hectares in Kaliganj, 820 hectares in Kotchandpur, 3,210 hectares in Moheshpur, 7,950 hectares in Shailkupa and 3,650 hectares in Harinakundu. The procurement rate of the jute fibre was fixed at 2.5 tones from each hectare, DAE sources said.
Deputy Director of Jhenidah DAE Kripangshu Sekhar Biswas when contacted admitted the least yield of the jute fibre in the current season. He said although the yield was hampered due to heavy downpour during the inception of the sowing season, the farmers have been receiving better prices compared to past seasons.
It will make up their deficiency partially somehow.
He said the farmers have already harvested 80 per cent of their jute and remaining to be harvested within a month.
