Machine helping to produce quality jute fibre HD

Jute growers become happy getting the new technology for producing best quality jute fibre using power-driven jute fibre extraction machine at 15 villages in Lalmonirhat sadar and Aditmari upazilas in the district during this current season. The machine separates jute fibre from stick and it is need only 8-10 days for rotting fibre in little water. The machine cuts into pieces the jute sticks but these are being sold at Tk 2 per kg on the spot. Nurul Haque,62, a farmer at Mostofi village in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila said, generally they produce fibre through rotting them in water for 20-25 days but this traditional method can’t give them best quality fibre and so they don’t get expected prices from selling fibre in the local market. “Now we are producing best quality fibre using new technology of jute fibre extraction machine,” he said hoping they will get good prices from selling vest quality fibre this year. “In traditional method we produce fibre from jute of one bigha land costing labour cost Tk 2000-2200 but we spend only Tk 1500 in the machine,” said another farmer Mafizur Rahman,58, at same village. “ “We get 8-12 maunds jute fibre from one bigha land where we get 4 to 6 maunds jute sticks,” he said adding they spend cost Tk 6 to 7 thousand for farming jute on one bigha land. Sunil Chandra Roy,40, a jute grower also entrepreneur at Ratipur village of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila said, they can extract jute fibre of one acthree bigha lands by machine every day and farmer pays Tk 1500 for extracting jute fibre of one bigha land. “We get the jute fibre extraction machine paying cost sharing Tk 20 thousand and this amount is deposited to Federation’s account and the amount would be used for welfare of Federation members,” he said adding he cultivates jute on four bigha lands this season. Aiming to ensure better mechanical jute fibre extraction along with improved jute rating process by turning it into less labour-intensive and eco-friendly through water saving technology, 15 machines were distributed among jute growers cum entrepreneurs under the project Securing Employment and Economic Development around Jute Textile and Light Engineering Sector in North-West Bangladesh funded by European Commission and implementing by jointly Practical Action Bangladesh and RDRS Bangladesh. Project Manager of RDRS Bangladesh in Lalmonirhat Maidul Islam told the Daily Star the major challenge of producing jute-diversified product is getting quality fibre. A great solution to that challenge is the newly-introduced fibre extraction machine which is being run at 15 different villages of two upazilas and this facility would be provide all other villages respectively, he said. Department of Agriculture Extension DAE in Lalmonirhat official sources said, jute was cultivated on 5800 hectares lands at five upazilas in the district this year but it was 6200 hectares lands in the last year. The Deputy Director DD of DAE in Lalmonirhat Bidubhushon Roy said, the pow