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Jute sticks open new income stream for Narail farmers

Published : Saturday, 24 October, 2026 at 11:41 AM

Observer Correspondent

Once left unused along village roads and in backyard corners, jute sticks are emerging as a valuable source of additional income for farmers in Narail, as growing commercial demand fuels a bustling local trade in the by-product of the country's traditional cash crop.

Previously used mainly as household fuel and for roofing betel-leaf gardens, jute sticks are now attracting buyers from different parts of the country.

The growing market is creating new business opportunities in rural areas, allowing farmers to earn extra money alongside selling jute fibre.

Stacks of jute sticks can now be seen drying in the sun on fields, paved roads and household courtyards across the district. After extracting the fibre from harvested jute plants, farmers dry the remaining sticks before selling them to traders who often purchase the material directly from their homes. Others transport the sticks to local markets on vans.

Farmers say the trade has become increasingly profitable as demand and prices have risen. Many are now using the proceeds from jute-stick sales to cover part of their cultivation costs.

“Compared with previous years, we are earning more by selling jute sticks,” said farmer Taher Ali.

According to him, traders from Magura, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal and Pirojpur are travelling to the area to purchase the sticks, reflecting the expanding market beyond Narail.

Mohammad Mona Mia, a jute-stick trader from Mithapur village in Naldy Union of Lohagara upazila, said he had already stocked up on sticks purchased from local villages and had begun selling them.

“This year, jute sticks are selling for Tk 380 to Tk 400 per maund. I hope prices will rise further,” he said.

A trader from Nahata in neighbouring Magura district said he regularly visited the area to buy jute sticks because they could be sourced at relatively low prices and resold in markets where demand was stronger.

He said the sticks were transported to different destinations, including Khulna, depending on market requirements.

The expanding range of uses for jute sticks is adding to their commercial value. While they have traditionally served as fuel for rural households, they are increasingly being used as raw materials for various industrial products and manufactured items, including office supplies.

This growing demand is turning what was once considered a low-value agricultural by-product into an additional revenue source for jute growers.

For farmers, the financial benefit comes from earning money from both the fibre and the remaining woody stems of the plant. The extra income can help offset production expenses and improve the overall return on jute cultivation.

According to the district agriculture department, jute was cultivated on a total of 23,517 hectares of land in Narail this year, with a production target of 58,198 tonnes.

Against this backdrop, the growing commercial value of jute sticks is offering farmers an additional economic incentive. Traders' visits to villages and direct purchases from growers have also helped expand the local market.

As demand continues to grow, farmers in Narail are increasingly looking beyond jute fibre to maximise returns from their harvests. What was once an overlooked by-product is now emerging as a promising source of supplementary income, strengthening the economic value of jute cultivation across the district.