Taking advantage of the situation brokers are offering low price which is below the production cost.

Jute growers said they were facing difficulties in selling their produce as six government purchasing centres in the region were closed down. With closure of the centers hundreds of labourers became jobless, they added.

Growers told UNB that brokers offered Tk 200-250 per maund of jute against the production cost of about Tk 350. They are compelled to sell their produce at throwaway prices for maintaining their families.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said jute on 85,200 hectares of land was cultivated in eight districts of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur zones this year with a production target of 852,000 bales of jute.

Of the total, 15,700 hectares were cultivated in Rangpur, 10,200 hectares in Gaibandha, 18,700 hectares in Kurigram, 7,900 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 13,300 hectares in Nilphamari, 7,500 hectares in Dinajpur, 5,400 hectares in Thakurgaon and 6,500 hectares in Panchagarh districts.