Scanty rainfall hits jute cultivation

Farmers in Jhenidah are facing difficulties in cultivating jute due to inadequate rainfall. Sources in the Water Development Board, Jhenidah said 102 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in May, 2014 in the district, 142 mm in last June and 193 mm in last July and about 120 mm was recorded last August. But this year, below 100 mm of rainfall was recorded in the month of May.
Dr Khan Moniruzzaman, sadar upazila agriculture officer said jute plants normally need plenty of water to grow. The plants usually grow 12 to 14 feet high in normal condition but this year, the plants have not grown even six to seven feet high due to insufficient rainfall. The plants are also getting thinner in comparison to previous years. Besides, farmers have to face problems during jute retting as well, he said.
Harez Ali, a jute grower of Chutlia village in Sadar upazila said at first he wanted to cultivate five bighas of land but due to scanty rainfall he now decided to cultivate only two bighas of land. Jute plants become reddish in the field if they do not get sufficient water, he added.
Mozammel Haque of Dhanharia village in Sadar upazila said jute cultivation is being badly hampered amid insufficient rain as farmers are reluctant to bear high costs for irrigation. He also added that only rain can save them. Otherwise, jute plants will dry in the field.
Tobibar Rahman, another jute grower of Mostabapur village in Kaliganj upazila said he spent Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 for seeds, saplings, pesticides, fertiliser and nursing costs for per bigha of land. Now layer of underground water is going down and the plants are being affected due to inadequate rainfall. If this situation continues for next two or three weeks, the farmers will be ruined, he added.
He usually spends Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 for irrigation of per bigha of land but now he has to spend additional Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of Jhenidah, the sowing target of local variety of jute was 380 hectares (ha) of land in four upazilas of Jhenidah and the sowing target of Tosha variety was 19,811 ha in six upazilas.
Deputy Director of DAE, Jhenidah Shah Mohammad Akramul Haque said rain is very important for growing jute plants. Colour, size and growth of jute plants depend on rain. Farmers are to irrigate regularly to save plants in this reverse climatic situation.
If farmers do not get favourable climate in this current season, they will have to incur huge losses, he said adding that many farmers took loan from state-run agencies and banks including BADC, BCIC and Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank for jute cultivation.

Scanty rainfall hits jute cultivation

Farmers in Jhenidah are facing difficulties in cultivating jute due to inadequate rainfall. Sources in the Water Development Board, Jhenidah said 102 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in May, 2014 in the district, 142 mm in last June and 193 mm in last July and about 120 mm was recorded last August. But this year, below 100 mm of rainfall was recorded in the month of May. Dr Khan Moniruzzaman, sadar upazila agriculture officer said jute plants normally need plenty of water to grow. The plants usually grow 12 to 14 feet high in normal condition but this year, the plants have not grown even six to seven feet high due to insufficient rainfall. The plants are also getting thinner in comparison to previous years. Besides, farmers have to face problems during jute retting as well, he said. Harez Ali, a jute grower of Chutlia village in Sadar upazila said at first he wanted to cultivate five bighas of land but due to scanty rainfall he now decided to cultivate only two bighas of land. Jute plants become reddish in the field if they do not get sufficient water, he added. Mozammel Haque of Dhanharia village in Sadar upazila said jute cultivation is being badly hampered amid insufficient rain as farmers are reluctant to bear high costs for irrigation. He also added that only rain can save them. Otherwise, jute plants will dry in the field. Tobibar Rahman, another jute grower of Mostabapur village in Kaliganj upazila said he spent Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 for seeds, saplings, pesticides, fertiliser and nursing costs for per bigha of land. Now layer of underground water is going down and the plants are being affected due to inadequate rainfall. If this situation continues for next two or three weeks, the farmers will be ruined, he added. He usually spends Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 for irrigation of per bigha of land but now he has to spend additional Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of Jhenidah, the sowing target of local variety of jute was 380 hectares (ha) of land in four upazilas of Jhenidah and the sowing target of Tosha variety was 19,811 ha in six upazilas. Deputy Director of DAE, Jhenidah Shah Mohammad Akramul Haque said rain is very important for growing jute plants. Colour, size and growth of jute plants depend on rain. Farmers are to irrigate regularly to save plants in this reverse climatic situation. If farmers do not get favourable climate in this current season, they will have to incur huge losses, he said adding that many farmers took loan from state-run agencies and banks including BADC, BCIC and Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank for jute cultivation.