Raiganj/Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Sep 4 (ANI): Jute farmers in West Bengal are incurring heavy losses due to goods produced in the neighbouring Bangladesh.
The farmers attributed the cause for loss to excessive use of plastics instead of the vegetable fibre.
The farmers of Rajgang block falling under West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District said that there was a significant decline in the demand for jute since the past one year.
"The market is low than last year. Last year, we sold our crop in about Rs. 2000 to 1700, but now we are getting a maximum of about Rs. 700 to 800 and a maximum of Rs. 1000," said Paresh Roy, a jute farmer in Rajganj block.
The farmers find it extremely difficult to make their ends meet due to a dip in the production of jute.
Around 40 percent of the jute crops were damaged due to heavy rainfall in May this year.
The businessmen are also bearing the brunt due to decline in the prices of jute in the market.
"In the last two months, the jute prices in the market have fallen down to about Rs. 2500 to 3000. People involved in jute business have suffered huge losses. Some have incurred 10 lakh, 20 lakh, and some in crores," said Binod Kumar Rathore, a jute businessman in Jalpaiguri District.
The farmers and the businessmen had to face the brunt as the jute fibres and the products from Bangladesh were sold at a very low price.
"Till the time the market in Bangladesh exists, and unless the use of plastic is not stopped then the work here would close down in a year or two," added Rathore.
Jute businessmen here further said that there was an adverse affect on the use of jute as the plastic bags was being used excessively for carrying rice. (ANI)
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