JHAPA, Aug. 5: Once, the jute produced in the eastern districts of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari was exported to India and Bangladesh. However, the situation has now reversed, with Nepal importing raw jute from both countries. Officials said imports of raw jute have increased year on year.
Raw jute worth Rs 4.91 billion was imported through the Kakarbhitta customs point in the fiscal year 2082/83 BS while the imports worth Rs 4.34 billion in the previous fiscal year. Officials said raw jute imports increased by 13.25 percent year on year.
Chief of the Mechi Customs Office, Shivaram Neupane, said jute is the third-largest imported goods through the Kakarbhitta customs point after petrol and diesel.
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According to government records, the districts of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari had been major producers and exporters of jute since the early 1980s. However, the country now relies on imports from India and Bangladesh to meet domestic demand.
Officials stated that higher costs in production but low market prices of the products led to limited jute cultivation in the districts.
Currently, many of the jute farmers in the districts have switched to paddy cultivation and other crops, citing lower income.
Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Jhapa, Sagar Bista, said jute cultivation is now limited to around 5,000 hectares of land. "Jute production has declined sharply over the past few years due to rising cultivation costs and limited income from jute farming," he added.
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