GUWAHATI, Dec 11 – The area under jute cultivation has increased in the State during the last five years and jute farmers are getting better remunerative prices for their crop, the State Government said today.
Replying to a draw attention raised by AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam in the Legislative Assembly, Agriculture Minister Rakibul Hussain said that over 70,000 hectares of land in the State was under jute cultivation this year as against around 62,000 hectares in 2010-11.
“There has also been some fluctuation in the price of jute. This year jute is fetching Rs 3,400-4,750 per quintal in the State as against Rs 2,600-3,500 per quintal last year. If this trend continues, jute farming will become more sustainable and farmers will benefit,” Hussain said.
He added that the Central Government is working to ensure that there is no artificial shortage of jute, including by hoarding, and the State Government is extending full cooperation in the matter.
Earlier, citing a report in The Assam Tribune regarding the Centre’s plans to impose stockholding limit on raw jute, Islam had said that even though Bangladesh has stopped the export of jute, thus pushing up prices in India, the farmers here are not getting proper prices.
“While jute prices in the market are around Rs 4,900-5,200 per quintal, farmers are only getting half of it. There is no incentive for the farmers,” he said.
