Nageshwari (Kurigram) Correspondent:
The expected jute cultivation in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram did not take place this time. During the jute cultivation season, many crops have been destroyed due to hostile weather and heavy rains. As a result, jute cultivation has decreased by about 100 hectares as compared to last time. According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, this time the target for jute cultivation was set at 2,250 hectares of land. 2,155 hectares of land has been acquired. Compared to last time, this time the land for jute cultivation has decreased by about 100 hectares. On the other hand, the surviving jute trees did not grow properly due to rains. As a result, farmers are expressing doubts about production.
Jute farmers of the upazila said that many jute fields have been destroyed due to heavy rains during jute cultivation this time. It was not possible to sow jute seeds in the new cow to eat the spoiled food. Many farmers have sown seeds twice. As a result, they have spent extra money.
Abdul Gani, a farmer from Bahar Kedar village in Kedar Union, said that after sowing jute seeds for the first time, they were destroyed in the rains. Later I sowed the seeds again. These jute trees did not do well. I am worried about whether the production cost will go up. Abdul Sobahan, a farmer in Saheb’s khas area, said that this time he has cultivated jute in three bighas of land. So far 11,500 rupees has been spent on cultivating jute per bigha. Then there is cutting and threshing. Jute growth has not been good due to the weather. If the price is not good then the loss has to be counted. The same thing was said by jute farmers Amjad Hossain and Khokon Mia.
Nageshwari Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahriar Hossain said many jute fields were destroyed due to heavy rains. Later the farmers cultivated other crops in those lands. As a result, the target was not achieved in jute cultivation. He added that jute has been cultivated in about 100 hectares less land this time as compared to last year.