Jute cultivation in the district this season exceeded the target as good weather and high market prices during the ongoing period encouraged farmers to bring more areas of land under its cultivation.

Market prices of jute remained low in last two years but it sees rise now and so, jute cultivation target exceeded by 3,000 hectares in the district this year, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

With prospect of bumper production, farmers expect

good profit this year, unlike the last two years.

"Farmers have brought 39,073 hectares of land under jute cultivation against the DAE's target of 35,993 hectares of land. Now 81,752 tonnes of jute production is expected from the district," said AI Shahin, a development officer of DAE, Pabna.

Upazila-wise, the cultivation areas are 8,375 hectares in Pabna Sadar upazila, 11,020 hectares in Sujanagar, 6,055 hectares in Chatmohar, 5,810 hectares in Santhia, 4,016 hectares in Atghoria, 1,850 hectares in Bera, 681 hectares in Ishwardi, 650 hect-

ares in Bhangura, and 616 hectares in Faridpur upazila.

"In last year I had cultivated jute on two bighas of land spending Tk 11.5 thousand but 10 maunds of yield brought me only Tk 12,000," said Md Abdus Salam, a jute farmer of Hamchiapur village.

"Despite frustrating experience last year, I have cultivated jute on the same land spending Tk 12 Thousand this year as the price is rising now. The weather is suitable too. I hope I will get 15 maunds of jute worth Tk 18 thousand this year," he added.