Jute farmers in Kurigram are facing a bleak situation as its prices continue to decline despite a good harvest this year and many of them are thinking of leaving jute cultivation for good from the next season.
Farmers said although the prices were good at the beginning of the season, they have significantly dropped.
The dire situation faced by jute farmers has raised concerns about the sustainability of jute cultivation in the region, as many are questioning the economic viability of continuing to grow this important cash crop.
The current market price of jute is between Tk 1800 to Tk 2000 per maund. Farmers are getting worried about whether they will be able to get their investment back.
Talking to UNB, some jute farmers said that they may have to give up jute cultivation in the next season due to such a slump in the prices.
A visit to the bustling jute market in Jatrapur, Kurigram's Sadar Upazila, reveals the gravity of the situation. Farmers from far and wide have arrived with their jute crops, using various means of transportation, including boats, bicycles, and horse-drawn carts.
However, the disappointment is palpable as they learn about the low prices of their jute. Compared to the previous week’s market, jute prices have plummeted by TK300-400 per maund, leaving farmers with negligible profits
Md Noor Islam, a farmer who came to the market from Kadamtala village of Kurigram Sadar said, “Cultivating jute on one bigha of land costs Tk 14000 to TK 15000 including fertilizer, water, pesticides and labour costs. I get 8-10 maunds of jute from one bigha of land. There will be no profit if I sell the product at the current price. What is the benefit of cultivating jute with so much difficulty then?”
Another farmer, Md Hasanur, said, “The price of jute has not been perfect for the past couple of years. There has not been sufficient rain this season, we had to use extra water in the dry season which raised the production cost.”
Aslam Mia, a jute trader from Kurigram Sadar said, “I bought jute at Tk 1800 to 1900 per maund and had to sell it today at the same price. There is no profit if the transport cost, labour cost and market toll are calculated. The price of jute was Tk 2200 to Tk 2300 per maund last week. The price is decreasing day by day.”
When asked, another small jute trader Jahedul Islam repeated almost the same.
ATM Khairul Haque, inspector of Kurigram district chief jute inspector's office, said, “The price of jute was good two weeks ago. Now the price is decreasing because most of the traders did not get their due money from the factories after supplying jute the previous times. So, the traders are not interested in buying jute now.”
