Farmers in the district are happy at getting fair price of jute this year due to favourable weather and availability of seeds and fertilizers at the beginning of the cultivation season.

Jute is being sold at Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 per maund, to the delight of farmers.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district Shah Akramul Haq said 35,825 hectares of land have been brought under jute cultivation in six upazilas of the district, while the target was 34,543 hectares.

Of the lands, 7,445 hectares are in Kaliganj, 5,763 in Shailakupa, 4,797 in Harinakundo, 5,515 in Moheshpur, 6,653 in Kotchandpur and 5,652 in Sadar upazila.

Shahjahan Ali of Raghunathpur village under Kaliganj upazila said he cultivated jute on three bighas of land this year at a cost of Tk 27,000, while it was sold at Tk 82,000.

Another farmer Abdur Rahman of Abaipur village under Shailakupa upazila said he cultivated the crop on seven bighas of land this year spending Tk 56,000. He harvested 84 maunds of jute that was sold for Tk 1.42 lakh at Tk 1,700 per maund. 

The DAE director said farmers are happy at getting good yield of jute and fair prices for the produce.