MANIKGANJ, Aug 13, 2024 (BSS) - The harvesting of jute is on in full swing in all the seven upazilas of the district this season.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said a total of 4,765 hectares of land was brought under Jute cultivation in the district with a production target of 64,580 bales of jute during the current season.
 
They said the soil of the district, specially, Singair, Manikganj Sadar and Saturia upazilas, is suitable for jute cultivation.
 
The sources said cultivation of jute is increasing every year as the growers are getting fair prices for their products, adding that more than fifty percent harvesting of jute has already been completed in the district.
 
Abdul Alim, 50, a farmer of Charigram village under Singair upazila said, "We are interested in cultivating jute because it gives us cash money during the lean period".

Sticks of jute are also used for different household purposes including fencing and cooking, he added.
 
Md. Lal Mia, 50, of village Kellai under Ghior upazila, said, "I had cultivated jute on two bighas of land this year, adding that all of them were cut off and I am expecting reasonable prices."

Experts at a technology demonstration function have stressed adopting the lowest-cost ribbon retting method in rotting jute plants amid water scarcity to get upgraded quality of the fibre with increased yield rate, the DAE sources said.

Though the rainy season is passing all over the country, there is no seasonal stagnant water in the district which is a great problem of jute rotting.

DAE officials said farmers are now busy with harvesting and rotting of jute plants in water bodies amid frequent rainfalls and also adopting latest ribbon-retting technology to ensure better quality of the fibre for high price.

DAE Deputy Director Abu Mohammad Enayet ullah urged farmers to adopt the easiest technology which might be crucial in the future due to continuous adverse impacts of global climate change badly affecting the agriculture sector and creating water scarcity frequently for rotting jute plants.

Deputy Director Abu Mohammad Enayet Ullah also said the farmers are interested in jute cultivation as they get good prices for their products.