Jute cultivation decreases in Meherpur

Jute cultivation decreases in Meherpur

The farmers of the district becoming  disinterested gradually in firming jute fearing losses. Farmers say, they are being deprived of fair prices due to syndicate of the traders.  Agriculture Department telling that the government taken various program in order to motivate the farmers to cultivate more jute.
As the jute cultivators have been experiencing losses for the last few years that is why they are becoming disinterested to cultivate jute in the district. As a result the jute firming is reducing in the district. An amount of taka 10 to 11 thousands is spent for cultivating one bigha jute while they are to sell it at a cost of taka 8 to 9 thousands only.
According to District Agricultural Office, farmers brought their land under jute cultivation on  some 23,755 hectares   in 2015,   27,210 hectares in 2016, 25,845 hectares in 2017 and 20,790 hectares in 2018 while 19,920 hectares  during the current season.
Anarul Islam, Israil Biswas, jute cultivators of village Patkelpota under sadar upazila said that getting no indigenous seed they had to buy foreign seed. Sometimes they get substandard seed that is why do not receive the better outturn. Farmers used to face losses 2 to 4 thousand taka every year  per bigha. For the reason farmers turning away from the jute cultivation.
The jute farmers  further said that the jute purchasing center does not purchase their jute timely on the  other hand they take it on credit. They do not pay the price in due time as a result farmers fail to cultivate next crop properly. Finding no other alternative they are compelled to sell the same to the small traders  comparatively low price.
Small traders said, “During the time of jute harvesting the jute mills remain close. Taking the advantages the traders of large scale used to form syndicate and purchase the jute giving minimum price”.
Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Meherpur said that they jute cultivators of the district used to retting their green jute following the backdated method that is why they are deprived of fair price to some extent. But the agricultural department giving them all sorts of advice to produce better jute.