Jute harvesting in Manikganj continues in full-swing

BSS, Manikganj :

The harvesting of Jute, the main cash crop of the people of the district, is going on in full swing with expected bumper production as the favourable weather was prevailing all over the district during the current season.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said they set a target of cultivation of Jute on a total of 4,500 hectares of land in all seven upazilas of the district with a production target of 51,544 bales of jute during the current season.

But the Jute was cultivated on 4,656 hectares of land exceeding its fixed target.

Of them, 3,899 hectares are Tosha, 742 hectares are local varieties and 15 hectares are Mesta.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said the soil of the district, specially Singair, Manikganj Sadar and Saturia upazila, is suitable for jute cultivation.

The DAE sources said cultivation of jute has been increasing every year as growers are getting fair prices for their products, adding that the harvesting of Jute is going on in full swing in the district as all the tanks, canals and roadside ditches are now full of with rain water and the farmers are rotting their jute plants in that water.

More than ninety percent of jute has already been harvested in all seven upazilas of the district, the DAE sources said.

The DAE office took a programme to distribute quality seeds of ‘Tosha Jute’ free of cost as special incentives among 3000 poor and marginal farmers of the district to boost the cultivation of Jute in all seven upazilas of the district during the current season, official sources said.

Deputy Director of DAE Abu Muhammad Enayetullah said the government has taken massive programmes to increase the cultivation and production of jute and ensure its reasonable prices.

Boro rice procurement drive continues Boro rice procurement drive of the government has been continuing since May 25 in all seven upazila of the district amid much enthusiasm among the farmers.

District Controller of Food Mahmuda Akter Mousumi said the food office has fixed a target to procure 3,904 metric tons of rice during the current season.

Of the total, 3,228.54 metric tons of rice has been procured so far in the district, she said adding that the procurement of rice would be continued up to 14th September expecting to achieve the target, he said.

She also said 572.4 metric tons of Boro paddy was procured in the district.