Jute. File photo

NARAIL, Sept 24, 2025 (BSS) - Jute growers in the district are delighted over bumper production and fair market prices this season, prompting increased cultivation compared to the previous year.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), jute was cultivated on 23,498 hectares of land in the district this year-an increase of 68 hectares from last year's 23,430 hectares-with an expected production of 3,05,708 bales.

Farmers are showing renewed interest in jute cultivation, aiming to revive the golden tradition of the once-dominant cash crop. This enthusiasm has translated into higher yields and profits.

DAE officials said jute was cultivated across three upazilas of the district, with the upazila-wise break-up as follows: 6,925 hectares in Narail Sadar upazila, 12,165 hectares in Lohagora upazila, and 4,408 hectares in Kalia upazila.

On average, farmers are harvesting 8 maunds of jute per bigha. Cultivation costs range from Tk 10,000 to Tk 11,000 per bigha, while net profits after expenses are estimated between Tk 14,000 and Tk 16,000 per bigha.

Nipu Majumder, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of DAE in Narail, said high-yielding varieties such as O-9897, GRO-524, and BJRI Tosha-8 were cultivated in different parts of the district.

Muhammad Arifur Rahman, Deputy Director of the DAE in Narail, said the district's soil is highly suitable for jute cultivation. He added that demand for eco-friendly jute products is increasing both at home and abroad, boosting farmers' income and interest.

"To bring back the tradition of golden jute in all three upazilas, the Agriculture Department has taken several initiatives to encourage cultivation on available arable land," he said.

As part of government incentives, a total of 4,000 small and marginal farmers received one kilogram of seeds, five kilograms of DAP and five kilograms of MOP fertilizer free of cost this season, he added.