Low price makes jute farmers sad in Kurigram

Kh. Ekramul Haq Samrat, Kurigram :

The farmers of Kurigram are not happy with their better production of jute this year as they are not getting satisfactory price.

They are being compelled to sell jute to the local buyers in low rates. Per mound jute is being sold in the market ranging 1700-2000 according to quality.

Although the target of jute cultivation have achieved in this year due to favorable climatic condition but the farmers are being frustrated with low price.

It is lower than production cost, farmers said.

The cultivation of jute was targeted target on 17,900 hectares of land in the district in this year with production target 2.52 metric tons in per hectare and the target have been achieved due to favorable climatic condition.

While visiting the spot at the traditional Jatrapur haat in Kurigram Sadar upazila and found that the haat sets here two days in the week.

Around 2000-3000 mounds of jute are being sold and purchase here. The jute growers from various parts in the district come here with their produced jute for sell.

There is no opportunity to sell jute directly in purchasing center so they are compelled to sell their jute to local buyers in low price.

Moksedul Alam 35 a farmer of village Kazipara under Bhogdanga union in Sadar upazila informed that I shall not sell my jute in low price.

The present rate at Tk 1800-2000 in per mound without transportation cost.

The production cost at Taka 9000-10,000 in per bigha of land and jute produces 7-8 mounds there. Another farmers Anowar Hossain 38 of village Kaliganj under Nageswari upazila said he produced 35 mound of jute on his five bighas of land.

I sold 20 mounds of jute at taka 2800 in the beginning of the monsoon and the rest are being sold at taka 1800-2000.

In addition the boat fare has to be paid taka 15 and haat tax taka 50 in per mound.

Local buyer Jahedul Islam said per mound jute was sold at taka 2500-2600 in last week but I have bought per mound at highest rate at taka 2000.

I have purchased 80 mounds of jute but I have to count loss if the market price is not increased.

There is no possibility to increase the price, he said.Same phenomenon was seen in the haat at Pateswari, Kathalbari under sadar upazila,Durgapur under Ulipur upazila, Kharibari under Fulbari upazila and Nageswari and Chilmari upazila.

Kurigram Chief Inspector of Jute ATK Khairul Haque said jute price was high some days back. Now the price fall down rapidly.

The causes of falling down of price as most of the jute traders have not received of supplied their price of jute. Consequently, there is no money in the hand of traders causing the traders have lost the eagerness to purchase jute.

Deputy Director of Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension Biplab Kumar Mohanto said according to my assumption the price have been decreased due to jute flood in the markets. If the farmers keep jute in their houses for some days they may get better price.