Sowing of jute seeds gets momentum in Rangpur

The farmers have intensified the process of sowing jute seeds following rainfalls during the past couple of days almost everywhere in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region this season.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here have said that a target of producing over 6.82-lakh bales of jute from 63,600 hectares of land has been fixed for the region during the current season.

"Sowing of jute seeds got momentum this week following sporadic rainfalls in recent days though the farmers started the process last month," said Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.

He said the farmers started showing more interests in jute cultivation during the past couple of years following the government's declaration of jute as the national agricultural product and use of jute sacs mandatory in various sectors.

"The farmers may exceed the fixed jute farming target in the region this time following its bumper production and lucrative price during the last two consecutive seasons," he added.

Deputy Director of the DAE Md Moniruzzaman at its regional office here said the farmers will produce over 6.33-lakh bales of 'Tosha' variety jute fibre from 56,300 hectares of land, 49,191 bales of 'Deshi' variety fibre from 5,295 hectares and 253 bales of 'Mechta' variety of jute from 30 hectares of land in Rangpur region this season.

"The farmers are showing more interest in jute cultivation after getting high quality seeds from Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, other recommended government and non-government organisations and dealers in recent years," he said.

He said the farmers have already sowed jute seeds on 3,550 hectares of land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts under the region amid favorable climatic conditions for cultivation of the crop.

Talking to the news agency, farmers Echhahaq Ali, Aiyub Hossain, Abdul Malek and Ariful Haque of different villages under Sadar upazila here said they intensified the process of sowing quality jute seeds in recent days after rainfalls in the area.

They thanked the present government for ensuring supply of quality jute seeds and providing them with training on using ribbon-retting machines to ease the processes of separation and rotting of the fibre to get better production, reports BSS.

Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam said adequate steps have been taken and the field level officials directed to extend necessary assistance to the farmers in making the jute cultivation programme successful this season.