Golden fiber now 'Golden Past
Sabbir Hossain, Patgram (Lalmonirhat )
Jute cultivation has drastically fallen in Lalmonirhat this season. Once covered in green jute fields, the northern agricultural district now sees very little of the crop. High production costs, lack of rain, and low market prices have led to an unprecedented decline in jute farming.
According to the Lalmonirhat Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), jute cultivation in the district has hit a record low. Land dedicated to jute dropped sharply from 3,720 hectares in the 2022–23 season (yielding 35,500 bales) to 2,400 hectares in 2023–24 (producing 22,500 bales). The decline plummeted even further in 2024–25, where farmers cultivated under 300 hectares—a multi-decade low that fell far short of the 1,800-hectare target.
The sharp decline is driven by soaring production costs of Tk 15,000–18,000 per bigha due to expensive diesel, fertilizer, and labor, alongside severe water shortages that hinder jute retting. With market prices hovering at Tk 2,000–2,200 per maund against production costs of Tk 2,500, farmers are forced to harvest at a loss.
Reflecting the struggle, local farmer Rafiqul Islam (55) said he switched to maize and paddy after incurring losses on jute last year due to high costs and water shortages for retting.
Agriculture officials acknowledge that climate change and water scarcity are pushing farmers toward maize and vegetables. To reverse the trend, the DAE is offering incentives and ribbon-retting training, but experts insist that fair prices and government support remain essential to save jute in Lalmonirhat.
