Assam state sees rise in jute cultivation area during the last five years and jute farmers are getting better remunerative prices for their crop. This year, over 70,000 hectares of land in the State was under jute cultivation against around 62,000 hectares in 2010-11, said Agriculture Minister Rakibul Hussain in the the legislative assembly.

He added that the Central Government is working to ensure that there is no artificial shortage of jute, including by hoarding, and the State Government is extending full cooperation in the matter.

However, there has also been some fluctuation in the price of jute. This year jute is fetching Rs 3,400-4,750 per quintal in the State as against Rs 2,600-3,500 per quintal last year. If this trend continues, jute farming will become more sustainable and farmers will benefit, Hussain said.

While jute prices in the market are around Rs 4,900-5,200 per quintal, farmers are only getting half of it. There is no incentive for the farmers.

Even though Bangladesh has stopped the export of jute, thus pushing up prices in India, the farmers here are not getting proper prices.