Our Correspondents
MAGURA, July 06: Recent rainfall has come as a boon for the jute growers in the district.
A good number of jute growers said a drought-like situation was prevailing in the district for a month. They were worried over the production of the crop. But the rain has relieved them of the anxiety.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Magura, sources said over 32,555 hectares of land have been brought under jute cultivation in the district this season with the production target of 3,58,105 bales.
Majedual Hoque of Sharangadia village under Sreepur upazila said he has brought some three bighas of land under jute farming this season.
The farmer said rain saved his irrigation cost.
Another grower Golam Murtaja of Beroil village under Magura Sadar said, "I have brought two bighas of land under jute cultivation this season. My jute field is now free from insect for recent rain."
Magura DAE official Shohrab Hossein said all necessary supports have already been provided to the growers.
"We are expecting a bumper production of the cash crop but it needs more rain", the official added.
Meanwhile, our correspondent from Rangpur adds: The jute cultivators have begun harvesting the crop across the five districts in Rangpur agriculture region during this current season.
At the initial stage of harvest, the growers are satisfied with the good yield as the plants have grown well owing to congenial weather condition.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources, around 58,250 hectares of land were brought under the jute cultivation this year in the region. The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat.
Asadul, a jute grower of Khansama village under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district told FE that he cultivated jute on two bighas of land this year and the condition of its growth is satisfactory. Adequate water supply, agri-inputs and congenial weather condition favoured jute cultivation this year, he added.
This year the crop has been cultivated in the mainland as well as in char areas of the region, as many landless and river eroded people have also brought char lands under jute farming this year, sources said.
DAE Rangpur official sources said that smooth supply of water and agri-inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides enhanced jute cultivation in the region which made the farmers hopeful about getting a bumper production of this crop during the current season.
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