Famed worldwide as an environment-friendly natural fibre, jute was once the main forex earner for the country and a cash crop for millions.

But over the years, it was on the wane as most farmers had abandoned or reduced jute cultivation because of low yield and price, at times due to lack of government patronisation and appropriate policy. They switched over to other crops.

The new prospects are in sight now following cultivation of a newly evolved high yielding variety (HYV) of jute.

It has rejuvenated farmers, thanks to the Directorate of Jute which initiated an integrated HYV jute and jute seed production project in Pirganj in Rangpur district.

Farmers in the project area this year got a bumper production. The yield is almost double the quantity they got from traditional varieties earlier.

The new HYV variety of Tossa jute (O-9897), introduced this year, produced 30 to 35 maunds per bigha (33 decimal land) against l2 to 15 maunds from earlier varieties.

The new Tossa variety also involves lesser cost and the fibre is superior to the earlier variety, farmers told this correspondent during a visit to the project area.

A total of 200 acres of land were brought under intensive jute cultivation programme in Pirganj this year.

The government initiative has raised hopes among farmers and the new variety is gaining popularity.

Seed of the new variety is being produced on 10 acres of land under the project to spread its cultivation. The seed will be distributed among farmers at fair price, officials said.

Earlier, farmers in the area had lost interest in jute cultivation as inferior quality of Indian seeds captured the market. They did not get even the production cost as the yield was very low due to early flowering, farmers said.

They are happy because the price is also favourable this year. They are now selling the new variety of Tossa jute at Tk 600 to 650 per maund against Tk 150 to Tk.200 earlier.

"Yield was less earlier due to use of Indian low quality seeds. But this time, the yield from HYV jute seed is beyond our expectation," said Moslemuddin of Hasanpur village.

Abul Hossain of Dhulgari village said, "Earlier we produced jute as little as possible because the price and yield were low. We cultivated the crop only to meet household needs and for jute sticks for use as firewood. The trend will change now".

To regain the past glory of jute and strengthen the national economy, the Directorate of Jute has meanwhile undertaken a programme to spread cultivation of the new variety to 100 upazilas in 32 districts, Mahfuzul Alam, Director of HYV Jute Project said.