Jute farmers in Kurigram’s Fulbari upazila are facing a serious crisis as they struggle to begin harvesting amid a severe shortage of water needed for retting. Fields heavy with mature jute stand unharvested because local ponds and canals have dried up, putting the crucial fibre extraction process at risk. Farmers worry that without timely retting, their crops may rot and lead to heavy financial losses. Only people who live near the Dharla, Baromasia, and Neelkamal rivers have been able to gather enough water to begin the retting process. Others are being forced to carry their jute two to four kilometres away to find suitable water bodies. This extra distance adds to transport costs and extra labour, squeezing already slim margins. In the village of Anantapur, located within the Kashipur union, a farmer named Badiuzzamal explained that he had grown jute on one and a half bighas of land. However, he is currently facing difficulties and cannot start the retting process because of the dry conditions. He said that if substantial rainfall does not arrive within the week, farmers will face serious trouble. Others like Kishab Chandra Roy and Dhiren Chandra Roy confirmed that recent showers were too light to replenish ponds or paddy fields for retting. This problem is not new. Farmers say the water shortage during retting season has occurred repeatedly over the years. Without reliable water for retting or proper facilities, many are losing interest in cultivating jute—a historic cash crop and a civic symbol of the region’s farming heritage. Rising production costs are also weighing on growers. Even when retting is possible, the cost of harvesting and transporting fibre is rising, and jute prices remain low. Many farmers express concern over recovering their investment. Local officials are paying attention. The Upazila Agriculture Officer, Nilufa Yasmin, said that Department of Agricultural Extension has supported jute cultivation across six unions, covering about 480 hectares. Up to this point, farmers alongside rivers have completed retting on nearly 75 hectares. With monsoon rains approaching, they hope heavier showers will ease the water crisis for the rest of the crop areas. Experts warn that unless long‑term measures are introduced—such as improved water storage, modern retting facilities, fair market pricing and technical training—the golden fibre of Kurigram may continue to decline in importance. Should jute farming turn out to be unreliable or not profitable, a declining number of farmers will choose to grow it. This would negatively impact rural earnings and threaten an important sector of Bangladesh’s economy. Nonetheless, both the farmers and local officials hold onto a sense of optimism despite these difficulties. They are calling for district or national support to bring modern retting technologies, better irrigation systems and stable jute pricing. If that support arrives, Kurigram’s jute sector may yet survive this dry season and regain its strength.
