Daudkandi jute farmers fear low prices despite bumper yield

A bumper jute harvest has brought renewed hope to farmers in Daudkandi’s Bhelanagar village this season, but farmers concerns over low prices and the absence of large wholesale buyers threaten to undermine their earnings.

The ongoing jute harvesting season has transformed Bhelanagar village in Elliotganj North Union of Daudkandi upazila into a busy hub of activity, as farmers reap a bumper harvest of the country’s traditional cash crop.

A recent visit to the village found farmers engaged in every stage of jute processing, from retting the harvested stalks in water and extracting the fibre to washing, drying and bundling it for sale. Men and women alike are working from dawn to dusk to prepare the golden fibre for the market.

According to Hashem Molla a local farmers , around 65 cultivators have grown jute on extensive farmland this season. Seeds were sown after the first rains in the Bengali month of Chaitra, followed by regular field management. Harvesting began at the end of Ashar, after which the plants were retted, processed and dried before being taken to market.

Farmer Sadim Ali Molla and his wife, Delowara, said they had worked hard throughout the season but feared their efforts would go unrewarded without fair market prices.

Another farmer, Billal Molla, who cultivated jute on one kani of land, said he was now waiting for a reasonable price. Several other growers echoed the same concern, warning that continued low prices could discourage future jute cultivation.

Farmer Hashem Molla and his wife, Morsheda, said this year’s yield was very good, but the lack of wholesale buyers remained a major challenge. They noted that more than 200 maunds of jute could be sold collectively if large traders visited the area.

Farmers said they spent between Tk 15,000 and Tk 20,000 per kani on cultivation. Although jute sold for around Tk 3,000 per maund last year, rising production and labour costs have significantly reduced their profit margins.

Jute, once Bangladesh’s leading export commodity and a major source of foreign exchange earnings, is regaining global importance as demand for environmentally friendly products increases.

With the growing use of biodegradable jute products as an alternative to plastic, stakeholders believe ensuring fair prices at the farm level is essential to sustaining the sector.

Speaking to the New Nation Professor Matin Soikat, an Agricultural Important Person (AIP) and a two-time recipient of the National Agriculture Award and the National Environment Award, said jute remains one of Bangladesh’s most important eco-friendly cash crops.

He said expanding fair market opportunities for farmers would encourage production while benefiting both the national economy and the environment.

Syed Mosharraf Hossain, Jute Development Assistant Officer at the Department of Jute Development in Daudkandi, said the government had distributed improved Tossa jute seeds among 600 farmers in Elliotganj North, Panchgachia, Maruka, Biteshwar and Padua unions, along with training and technical support.

He added that jute production had been excellent across the upazila this season, with Bhelanagar recording the highest yield. He expressed hope that fair prices would encourage farmers to cultivate more land next season.

Farmers urged the government to ensure fair prices, expand direct procurement and facilitate the participation of large wholesale buyers to reduce the role of middlemen.

They believe a farmer-friendly marketing system would help revive Bangladesh’s golden fibre industry while strengthening rural livelihoods, exports and the national economy.