Jute cultivation on the verge of extinction even after crores of incentives

Although Bangladesh is called the land of golden fibers, jute cultivation in Thakurgaon is on the verge of extinction. Jute cultivation was extensive in this district earlier. But even after giving crores of incentives, jute plantations in the district are almost lost.

Farmers say that due to lack of incentives, low yield of jute and lack of stimulation system and prices, even one-third of this crop has not been cultivated this year compared to last year. On the other hand, Jute Directorate and Agriculture Department officials say that despite the gradual decrease in cultivation, the interest in jute cultivation is being increased through the incentives of farmers. However, they blame fair price of jute and poor management as obstacles.

Jute had its golden days once, but now its picture is different. During the current year jute season in the district, jute cultivation is decreasing day by day due to lack of good quality seeds, advice and proper field care.

According to the information of the Additional Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Extension Department, five years ago i.e. in 2019, jute was cultivated in 5 thousand 860 hectares of land and the production was 13 thousand 137 tons. But in 2024, 6 thousand 170 hectares of land were cultivated and jute production was only 12 thousand 874 metric tons. Compared to 19 years, jute cultivation is more in 310 hectares of land this year, but according to the yield, 263 tons of jute has been produced less than that year.

According to the information of the district jute development officer, 10 thousand 193 farmers of only four upazilas of the five upazilas of the district have been given incentives for jute cultivation. In addition to 1 kg of seeds, 6 kg of urea, 3 kg of TSP and 3 kg of MOP fertilizer, each has been given 500 taka for training, 300 taka for eating bill and 80 taka for breakfast. Besides, notebooks, pens and bags are also provided. On the other hand, 3,600 farmers have been given seeds and fertilizers as incentives from the District Agriculture Extension Directorate. Billions of rupees are spent every year on providing seeds, fertilizers and training to thousands of farmers as incentives to increase jute cultivation, but no significant benefit has been seen.

Most of the jute farmers say they have not received any kind of incentive. They expressed their anger and said that starting from raising jute day by day due to lack of water, disease of jute and increase in cost, yield and price are also low. Because of this, compared to last year, not even one third of jute was cultivated in the district this year. Many of those who planted jute last year did not plant any jute this year. Those who did did very little. Therefore, they requested to ensure fair price of jute along with providing government support to genuine farmers to increase the cultivation of this golden crop.

Md. A jute farmer named Anisur Rahman said that it costs about 30-35 thousand taka to grow jute on 50 percent one bigha land. Our jute mills cannot survive by selling jute at current market rates. We do not get a fair price as per the cost. Compared to other times, the price and yield of jute is also low this time. Because of this, many of those who planted jute last time did not grow jute this time. And we who are real jute farmers are not getting any kind of support starting from government fertilizer seeds. I request the present government to increase the price of jute and pay fair price to the farmers to make the farmers interested in jute cultivation in the future.

Farmer Abdul Hamid said, I have not received any government support. Thakurgaon used to have extensive jute cultivation. Farmers have not cultivated even one part of jute this year compared to three parts of last year. It seems that what has happened now will not be cultivated in the future. Last time I planted jute in one and a half bigha land. This time I did it only in the 25th century. Also, due to lack of water, jute cannot be properly decomposed. 15,000 taka has been spent to cut the jute only this time. Apart from this, the cost of fertilizers and poisons and jute cleaning is different. Jute cultivation cost extra.

Hamidul Rahman, a jute farmer, said that some time ago, jute was worth Tk 2,600-700. But it has come down to 2 thousand 500 taka. About 10,000 taka per bigha is being lost.

Md. Another jute farmer named Rashidul Islam said, last year I planted jute in one bigha of land. This time I planted 10 khata of land. This time the price of jute is lower than the previous time. We who grow jute are not getting fair price. One bigha of jute is being sold for 25-30 thousand taka and cost is 30-35 thousand taka. In this way jute can no longer be cultivated.

Farmer Saiful Islam said that fertilizer, seeds and money are given to jute farmers by the government. I didn't get anything. If we who grow jute don't get help then who will? In the future, if the government does not take action and cooperate with the jute farmers, the jute plantation may disappear. No one will plant jute in vain.

When asked about the incentives, District Jute Development Officer Asim Kumar Malakar could not give a positive answer. He said that Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) do the work of giving incentives including list of farmers, purchases.

But later he added that we encourage farmers every year with training, fertiliser, seeds and honorarium to grow and increase production of jute. And because of the shortage of jute seeds in the country, we have to import 90% of the seeds from India. So we arrange good quality seed production through farmers. Later, we buy their seeds again under the project at the rate of Tk 200 per kg.