United News of Bangladesh

A severe water crisis in Lalmonirhat, despite the ongoing monsoon, is significantly disrupting the crucial retting process of jute, leaving farmers worried about potential financial losses due to declining fibre quality and fears of not receiving a fair market price. The lack of sufficient rainfall has dried up canals, ponds, and other water bodies, halting the traditional process of retting, an essential step in extracting fibre from jute stalks. Although this is usually the peak time for jute harvesting, many farmers have been unable to proceed due to the shortage of water. Those who have already harvested are watching their jute wither under the scorching sun, unable to begin retting. Growers across the district report that jute left in the fields is turning reddish due to intense heat exposure. Golden fiber in trouble: Kurigram’s jute farmers struggle amid water crisis