Jute prices have recovered in Lalmonirhat. Depending on quality, a maund now sells for up to Tk 5,000 to 5,100, about Tk 1,400 to 1,500 more than at the same time last year, Agricare24 reports, citing a special report by the state news agency BSS on Wednesday.
Trading has picked up in the markets of Sadar, Aditmari and Kaliganj upazilas, with similar prices in Hatibandha and Patgram. Stockists, wholesalers and ordinary buyers are all keener to buy, raising both supply and turnover. Many farmers had lost interest in jute when they could not recover their costs; this year that has changed.
Department of Agricultural Extension figures show 4,045 hectares sown to jute in the district this season against a target of 4,010 hectares, 730 hectares more than last year, producing 8,857 tonnes of fibre.
The weather took its toll. Farmers say heavy rain and floods stunted the crop in many places: plants that normally reach 7 to 13 feet were 2 to 5 feet shorter, cutting fibre by 40 to 60 kilograms a bigha on average. Afzal Hossain of Panchagram union sold five maunds at Tk 5,000 each, Tk 1,000 to 1,500 more than last year. Ali Hossain of Kaliganj said floodwater made retting and stripping easier this year and cut transport costs.
Trader Kartik Pal said Lalmonirhat jute has always been of good quality and good prices have lifted supply and sales at Barobari haat. Kabir Hossain, who holds the lease on the haat, said farmers are bringing jute to market eagerly because prices are better than last year.
Dr Md Saikhul Arifin, deputy director of the district agricultural extension department, said yields were satisfactory in most of the district despite losses to heavy rain in some areas, and that steps are being taken to supply better seed and inputs, raise output and ensure fair prices.
Photo: Nahid Hossain / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Source: Agricare24
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