The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has brought a total of 3528 hectares of land under Jute cultivation in all seven upazilas in the district with a production target of 46,353 bales during the current season. Of the total, 2956 hectares were brought under Tosha variety of jute with a production target of 40,061 bale, 776 hectares local variety with a production target of 6093 bales and 16 hectares kenaf with a production target of 253 bales. The DAE sources said cultivation of jute is increasing every year in the district as growers are getting fair price of their products. They said 883 hectares were cultivated in Manikganj Sadar upazila, 344 hectares in Saturia upazila, 991 hectares in Singair upazila, 317 hectares in Harirampur upazila, 237 hectares in Shibalaya upazila, 324 hectares in Ghior upazila and 432 hectares in Daulatpur upazila during the current season. Abdus Salam (40), a farmer of Kangsha village under Singair upazila said, “We are interested in cultivating jute as it gives us cash money during lean period. Sticks of jute are also used for different household purposes.” Md. Hafijuddin, 52, of village Dashora under Manikganj Sadar upazila said “I have cultivated jute in two bighas of land this year and it is growing well. I expect good production and I am waiting to get cash money selling jute to repay my bank loan.” Md. Habibur Rahman Chowdhury, an official of DAE, said the jute cultivators are interested in jute cultivation as they get good price of their products and they are getting all kinds of support from the government including quality seeds and fertilizers.
