Shamsul Alam- Thakurgaon is among the neglected districts bordering the northern border. For the past several years in the district, due to non-availability of fair price of jute and lack of rain, this golden fiber became a ‘noose’ for the farmers due to drought. Due to the fall in the price of jute in the market, the farmers turned away from farming. But now, due to the government initiative to reduce the use of polythene in the country and increase the use of jute and jute products, good days have returned to the farmers.
Farmers have been encouraged to grow jute this year in the district under the supervision of the Agriculture Department. The yield of jute has been bumper due to favorable weather conditions. If the farmers get a good harvest this time, more jute crops will grow in the future. According to Thakurgaon District Agricultural Extension Office sources, the target of jute cultivation was 7 thousand 756 hectares in the district this year. 6 thousand 170 hectares of land have been cultivated there. Last year, 7 thousand 900 hectares of land were cultivated. Which is 1 thousand 730 hectares less than last year. The jute markets have accumulated in the markets of different areas of Thakurgaon. Jute farmers of Sadar Upazila Dabirul said that 8-12 maunds of jute are available per bigha of land. Last Saturday, Pratiman jute was sold in Aladi Bazar from 2000 to 500 taka and was being sold from 2000 to 800 taka. At the beginning of jute rise last year, farmers could not make much profit by selling jute at Tk 2000 to 2200 per maund. This time it is a little bit more. There is a light of hope in the mind of the farmer. Abdul Hakeem was removing jute bark from the paved road of Velajan Nadipara village of Chillarong Union. He said that farmers are benefiting from jute cultivation. After hearing such words, this year I cultivated jute in one and a half bigha land. It has cost 25 thousand rupees. We are starting to cut the jute and remove the fibers. Currently, the price of jute in the market is higher than last time, hopefully there will be some profit in this, he said.
A few farmers including Dulal, Samsuddin, Alam of the same village said that they have been cultivating jute since Bapdada’s time. A jute mill (Karim Jute Mill) was established in this area. They have been deprived of the fair value of jute for several years. Another big jute mill was established called Supriya Jute Mill. So it is hoped that the jute market will return to the good day. So they are cultivating jute again. Their demand is that they should get better tuition rates from the beginning of the season.
District Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Md. Sirajul Islam said that the farmers of the district have turned to jute cultivation this year as well due to the good price of jute in the past years. Jute yield is good in this region as the climate is favorable. We are constantly supporting and advising the jute farmers in various ways to increase jute cultivation and get good yield. Huge interest of farmers in jute cultivation has been observed. All possible cooperation is being given by the agriculture department to encourage the farmers to grow jute. Apart from this, farmers are also getting fair price of jute in the market. We will bring back the lost heritage of jute.
