Jute. File photo

By Rostam Ali Mandal

DINAJPUR, Sept 29, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers of Dinajpur are showing keen interest in jute cultivation this year as they are getting good prices.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Dinajpur, hopes that if the market price of jute remains good in future, production will increase significantly.

"This year, the jute cultivation target was set on 760 hectares of land in the district with a production target of 9,066.8 bales, with 11.93 bales per hectare," Deputy Director of the DAE Md Afzal Hossain told BSS recently.

He said in the past, farmers used to cultivate jute, popularly called "Sonali Ash", as a developing crop in the country. But farmers' interest in jute cultivation declined due to reduced demand for jute products in the market.

"But at present, the demand for environment-friendly jute products has increased. Therefore, due to sufficient demand, farmers have received good prices for their harvested jute this year," he mentioned.

At the beginning of the season in May this year, 572 farmers were trained on modern jute cultivation methods by the DAE in Sadar, Phulbari, Birganj, Kaharol and Chirirbandar upazilas of the district.

The DAE provided training and distributed free improved varieties of jute seeds and chemical fertilizers among 3,850 farmers in 13 upazilas to encourage jute cultivation.

Abdul Jalil, a farmer from Nasharatpur village of Chirirbandar upazila, said he had not received good prices for jute in the past few years. Many people abandoned jute cultivation and switched to other crops.

For a few years, the price of jute per maund was between Tk 1,800 and 2,500. This year, jute is being sold at Tk 3,800 to 4,000 per maund.

Farmers can easily sell their jute in the market. So, most of them are very happy to get good prices at present.

This reporter spoke to some jute farmers, including Dhirendra Debnath, Nahid Islam, Azibar Rahman and Mozammel Haque of Phulbari and Birganj upazilas.

Dhirendra Debnath, a farmer from Aladipur village in Phulbari upazila, said that in addition to getting good prices for jute, the price of jute stalks as fuel is also satisfactory.

"Currently, jute stalks are being sold for Tk 400 to 500 per maund. As a result, farmers are able to earn extra money by selling jute stalks," he mentioned.

The jute farmers said if the prices remain fair, the good days of jute cultivation will return. This year, the jute yield is satisfactory and prices are high.

Assistant Director of the District Jute Department Md Solaiman Ali said jute is a very promising crop. However, this year, due to the increased demand for jute, farmers are getting good prices.

To increase interest in jute cultivation, free seeds and fertilizers of improved varieties have been distributed by the government to different upazilas this year, he added.