Dhaka, Sept. 1 -- The price of raw jute has hit a record high this harvesting season due to growing demand both at home and abroad.

Farmers are happy with better prices, but jute factories are struggling as traders are hoarding large volumes of raw jute. Prices may even cross the record set in 2001, they say.

In major jute-producing areas such as Pabna, Tangail, Rajbari, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, and Madaripur, raw jute is selling at Tk 4,000-4,300 per maund (37.32 kg)-an all-time high for any harvesting season.

Md Atiar Rahman, a farmer and part-time rickshaw driver from Pabna, says he sold jute from his five bighas of land at Tk 3,800-4,000 per maund in mid-August.

Including the sale of jute sticks, he made a profit of about ...