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Jute growers unable to get fair price for produce

From Our Correspondent
SHERPUR. Sept 17: Jute are being sold in the local markets between Taka 180 and Taka 200 which are too low, it is reported.
Jute purchasing agencies, either in private sector or In public sector, have not yet opened purchasing centres in the district. As a result, jute growers are not getting fair prices.
It is learnt that nearly one lakh bales of raw jute are expected to be produced during the current season in the district. Jute cultivation in the district Is very encouraging this year but growers fear that they have to sell their products at the prices which are below the production cost.
Some Jute growers of the district estimated production cost at Taka 400 as cost of inputs were high this year.
Some farmers informed this correspondent that the local brokers and farias are taking the advantage of the absence of purchasing centres of Bang ladesh Jute Milla Corporation (BJMC) and Bangladesh Jute
Corporation (BJC).
Growers arc compelled to sell their produce at a nominal price for their economic crisis. In some cases the farmers sell Jute on credit, it is informed.
Jute produced along the border district, especially in the villages of Shanondhabari, Danuakamalpur, Bakakura, Dhanshyl and Haldighata under Nalltabarl and Jhenaighatf thanas of the district might be smuggled out of the country, it is informed.
Having been deprived of fair price for six consecutive years, the growers of the district have reduced jute cultivation.
When contacted, a jute grower of the district Informed this correspondent that they cultivate Jute only to meet their rope and stick requirements.
Our Kushtia Correspondent adds: Jute growers in greater Kushtia district have been facing immense difficulties for want of adequate water reservoir for processing of their produce. Water from most of such stagnant ditches and
ponds are being used for cult! vation of other crops. Moreover rainfall this year was insufficient. As a result most of such places where Jute are placed for rottenlng are .remaining with Inadequate water.
On the other hand, sharp fall in the prices of Jute tn all the markets of greater Kushtia district left the Jute growers vulnerable.
According to the sources Jute is now being sold between Taka 150, 180 and Taka 225 per maund. Bangladesh Jute Corporation (BJC) has not yet taken any step for purchase of Jute from greater Kushtia district Farias and agents of Jute mills are taking advantage of the situation. And the poor growers are left at the mercy of those opportunists.
In the face of government indifference to the interest of Jute growers and unabated machinations of the middlemen. farmers are now in a dilemma whether to cultivate Jute in future.