June cultivation in the district is likely io sutler scflwu k due to insulli-' cient rainfall this season, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAI ) sources said

According to the department. 6.175 hectares of lands in six upa/ilasof the district were brought under jute farming last year - 755 hectares in Ihenidah Sadar 1.600 hectares in Sailkupa.B20hectares in Harinakundu. 565 hectares in Ka Iiganj. 5 10 hectares in Kotehandpur and 1925-he < urvs «j Muheshpur upazila. this year, the total land area for jute (arming may well be decreased hv 50 per cent

fhe DAE authorities say that usually the farmers start cultivating the improved variety of jute in midMarch and the local variety in early April. But till April 20. only 1.661 hectares of lands were brought under the farming. The upazila-wise break-up is 130 hectares in Jhendiah

Nadar, I hec tares in Sailkeipa. 35 i hectares in Ilarimqkundti. 172 hectares in Kaliganj. 40 hectares in Kotehandpur and MIU) hvclarvs in I Moheshpur upazila.

f armers ol these upa/ilas said ihai they were expecting rainfall in Man h and April, w hich is needed tor sowing jute seeds But the land area lor jute cultivation has come down, as there was not sufficient tain. When contacted, the DAE sources said that the land area lor jute-1.it in ingmight bcthelcast this season.

A lew ol the Linnets sowed jute seeds as^there was fwi'-t*»iMnnciu rainfall on March I. 3.70irftn on March 26, L30mm on March 29. 16.07mm on April IB and 17.32 mm on April 18. Now they are awaiting further rainfall.

Jute, once regarded as golden fibre, is now cultivated mainly for jute sticks by the farmers here, these fetch good money, which are widely used for fencing and in betel leaf farms.