GOPALGANJ, Nov 22: The jute growers of Gopalganj Sadar, Muksudpur and Kasiani upazilas in the district have been making an extra profit of Tk 200 million every year from the sale of jute stalks.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Gopalganj officials sources, a farmers produced 48,110 tonnes of jute from 21,478 hectares of land this season. They got 24,05,500 maunds of jute stalks. Per maund of stalks is sold at Tk 90 to Tk 100 in the market.
Samir Kumar Goshwami, deputy director (Agriculture), said jute stalk has a demand not only for fuel but also for fencing and in the garden of betel leaf. The demand of jute stalk is increasing day by day.
Jute farmer Kabir Tagore said Gopalpur village under Sadar upazila said, "I have cultivated jute on two acres of land and got above 60 maunds of production. I got 150 maunds of jute stalks of which market price is about Tk 15,000."
Rafiqul Islam, traders of Gaournadi under Barisal district, said, "Jute stalk is the essential for betel leaf farming. It has a high demand in the area where betel leaf grows most. I purchase jute stalk from Gopalganj and sell in Barisal."
Ranjit Biswas, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Suktail union under Gopalganj Sadar, said farmers of this region are getting a good economic benefit from jute stalks.
