UNB, Khulna :
Farmers in 10 districts under Khulna division are now facing difficulties in processing harvested jute plants for lack of water in absence of adequate rainfall in the current monsoon.
Talking to UNB, a number of cultivators said they are now facing problems in rotting jute plants in the rivers and other water bodies through traditional way for want of water.
Sources at Jessore regional office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said a target was set to bring 1,93,170 hectares of land under jute cultivation in the Khulna division this year to produce 21,4,979 bales of jute.
However, farmers cultivated jute on 1,83,536 hectares of land in the south-western districts this year.
They grew the crop on more 7,354 hectares of land last year.
Of the land cultivated this year, jute was grown on 35,335 hectares of land in Kushtia, 1,436 hectares in Bagerhat, 21,880 hectares in Jessore, 19,785 hectares in Jhenidah, 32,730 hectares in Magura, 18,350 hectares in Narail, 1,820 hectares in Khulna, 10,655 hectares in Satkhira, 18,150 hectares in Chuadanga and 23,395 hectares in Meherpur.
Farmer Khalilur Rahman of Shovna village in Dumuria upazila in Khulna said they fell in trouble in rotting and processing the national fibre in traditional method as there is a shortage of water in the rivers and other water bodies due to scanty rainfall this year.
He said many of them have piled up harvested jute plants in their fields since there is lack of water to rot those.
Like him, many growers said rotting jute plants in time has now become a challenge for them.
DAE officials are advising the farmers to rot jute through ribbon retting, a method to rote jute in small amount of water.
However, the farmers do not feel interested in using the method as they find it difficult.
Besides, the farmers were not imparted necessary training on the ribbon retting method.
Agriculture officer of Dumuria upazila said the farmers are interested in rotting jute in rivers, pools and marshy lands in traditional way though they were encouraged to use ribbon retting method in doing so.
Asked why the farmers were showing reluctance to follow the modern jute rotting method, director of DAE for Khulna regional office said it takes time to adopt a new technology.
The DAE official said they are encouraging farmers to rot jute in ribbon retting method.
Jute processing being hampered in Khulna Div
