SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

We grow jute ourselves. From sowing jute seeds to weeding, rotting, dehusking, drying the jute in the sun and selling it, we do everything ourselves. Jute cultivation by labour will not raise the cost. The price of jute is better this time than last time. By selling jute fiber and jute chalk, the cost will be recovered and some profit will be made. Farmers Akram Hossain and Sumon Sardar of Bakchara area of Satkhira were talking about the profit and loss of jute cultivation.

They said, farmers used to weave dreams with the golden fiber of jute. But jute and jute products are getting lost due to plastic and nylon. If we reduce the use of plastic, polythene and nylon, the heyday of jute will return. Public and private initiatives should be taken to increase public awareness on the use of eco-friendly jute products. Jute is one such crop that is available before Aman paddy is planted in the monsoon season. By this the farmer can earn some extra income. The contribution of jute to our rural economy has not ended. - said farmer Suman Sardar.

Farmer Akram Hossain said, last year the price of jute was Tk 1800 per maund (40 kgs). This year the price of jute is Tk 2500 per maund(40 kgs). This has increased the interest of the farmer in jute cultivation. What will happen if the price increases? The cost of jute cultivation has also increased. Because during the sowing of jute seeds, the land has to be irrigated extra. Weeds have to be controlled. To be cared for. After jute cutting, it is necessary for rotting. Remove the scales. Removed fibers should be dried in the sun and stored. It costs at least Tk 15-20 thousand per bigha to complete the entire process.

Palash Hossain, a jute grower of Naranjol village of Satkhira Sadar upazila of the district, said that the cost of jute production has increased in the current season compared to any other time. Last year it was spent like Tk 15-16 thousand per bigha but this year it has been spent Tk 19-20 thousand. But he said that the fair price of jute is not available.

Farmer Salim Hossain said, this time he cultivated jute on three bigha land. It cost him about Tk 60 thousand. He said that the jute production of three bigha land may be 18-20 maunds. Its current market value is 60 thousand taka. Even if the cost is recovered by selling jute, the profit will be jute. A profit of ten thousand Taka can be made by selling jute per bigha of land.

Abdus Salam, a farmer of Kenragachhi village of Satkhira Kalaroa upazila, said that he cultivated jute in one and a half bigha land this season. But due to lack of rain, he has suffered a lot in jute cultivation this time. This increased his labor and transportation costs. But farmer Abdus Salam is disappointed with the current price of jute in the market.

He said that the cost of production was about 20,000 taka per bigha. Jute of the same land has to be sold there for 14-15 thousand taka. Due to this, he said that by cultivating jute on one and a half bigha land, he may incur a loss of 10-12 thousand taka.

Rezaul Islam, a jute trader of Jhowdanga market in Satkhira Sadar upazila, said that jute which was sold for Tk 3,200 to Tk 3,400 at this time last year is currently being sold at Tk 1,900 to Tk 2,100. As the reason for this, he said, most of the jute produced in our country is exported to Russia. But due to the war, the export of jute to Russia was stopped for the time being, so the price fell. As a result the farmers are facing losses.

According to the information provided by Satkhira District Agriculture Extension Department, in the current season jute cultivation is done on 11 thousand 853 hectares of land in seven upazilas of Satkhira. Among them, 825 hectares in Satkhira Sadar, 3 thousand 855 in Kalaroa, 3 thousand 55 in Tala, 60 in Debhata, 25 in Kaliganj, 95 in Asashuni and 4 hectares in Shyamnagar Upazila are cultivated, which is about 1 thousand hectares more than last year.

The source also said that 12,820 hectares of jute were planted in the district last season. The production target of one and a half lakh belt jute has been set in the district.
Deputy Director of Satkhira District Agricultural Extension Directorate Saiful Islam said jute is a profitable crop.

Moreover, good production is also possible due to the soil and climate of the district. But if the jute export demand is not good, then how will the farmer get a fair price? Still, this is not a loss-making crop. But this time the cost to the farmers is a little higher. The reason is that irrigation has to be done due to lack of timely rain. They rot jute in different areas. This increases labor or transportation costs.