Jute cultivation exceeds target in Tangail

aJute has been cultivated on 17,147 hectares of land in Tangail against a set target of 15,642 hectares of land this season. The production target this year is 1,73,750 bales of jute.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers were more inclined towards jute cultivation this year due to the good price of jute last year. Farmers have been successful in jute cultivation in the current season as the weather is favourable and the soil is suitable for cultivation.

Last year, jute was cultivated on 16,088 hectares of land in the 12 upazilas of the district yielding 1,69,989 bales of jute.

Out of the total cultivated land 2,740 hectares is in Sadar upazila, 429 hectares in Basail, 1,195 hectares in Kalihati, 900 hectares in Ghatail, 1,756 hectares in Mirzapur, 91 hectares in Madhupur, 4,125 hectares in Bhuapur, 2,940 hectares in Gopalpur, 140 hectares in Sakhipur, 1,456 hectares in Delduar, 217 hectares in Dhanbari upazila.

According to the DAE, Desi, Tosha, Mesta, and Rabi-1 varieties of jute have been planted in Tangail. However, the cultivation of high-yielding Tosha varieties of jute has increased. About 6 to 10 maunds of jute were harvested per bigha from this variety.

Currently, jute is being sold at Tk 3,000-4,000 per maund depending on the variety.

The farmers of various villages including Hugra, Katuli, Dainya, Magra, and Gala of Sadar upazila are currently busy harvesting, and processing jute to separate the fibre from jute sticks.

Since there was ample water in the rivers and canals, the farmers were able to process their crops easily.

Farmer Hossain of Hugra Union of Sadar upazila said, “This year I cultivated jute on two bigha land and good weather has resulted in a bumper crop. I got 12 maunds of jute fibre and about 1,200 jute sticks.”

He added that the fibre was sold for Tk 3,800 per maund and jute sticks of Tk 5 per bundle.

Farmer Solomon Miah has been cultivating jute for several years. He said the prices are good this year and he was happy to have gotten a bumper yield due to good weather.

Tangail’s Elenga jute market is popular for jute trade in the area. Farmer Liton Miah said he has sold 20 maunds of jute at the market for a price of Tk 4,000 per maund.

Tangail DAE Deputy Director Ahsanul Bashar said the office has trained 300 jute farmers of the district and provided them with Rabi-1 jute seeds and fertiliser as an initiative.

“Agriculture officers are working on field levels to provide the farmers with advice and assistance. The farmers have benefited from the good yield this season,” he said.