AgribusinessGovernment sources estimate that turning half of the roughly 3 million tonnes of jute sticks produced each year into charcoal would yield 250,000 tonnes and large export earnings; producers in the industry, begun in 2012, want a dedicated policy.
CropsIn Kaunia, Rangpur, the jute sticks from 24 decimals of land fetch Tk 10,000-15,000, and demand from charcoal and particle-board factories is making up for the early-season fall in jute prices.
With a bigha costing Tk 20,000-26,000 to grow and yielding about 10 maunds at roughly Tk 3,000 a maund, the fibre alone leaves little profit; traders now pay Tk 10,000-15,000 for the same field's sticks, which have moved beyond cooking fuel to fencing, cattle sheds and hawking in town.
Good weather and higher yields have put 1,912 hectares under jute against a 1,911-hectare target, with 90 per cent harvested at 10-12 maunds a bigha and a crop worth about Tk 40 crore; jute sticks fetch Tk 80-100 a bundle, 8,000 farmers got 1 kg of seed each, and growers want the government to stop
