Once considered little more than firewood or fencing material, jute sticks have emerged as a profitable agricultural by-product, creating a thriving trade and providing livelihoods for farmers, traders, labourers and boatmen. From early morning, traders and labourers remain busy stacking, loading and transporting jute sticks to industrial mills and betel leaf-growing areas. “We purchase jute sticks from farmers in Magura Sadar, Mohammadpur, Lohagara in Narail and nearby areas at Tk 450 per maund,” he said. Abdul Karim, a local farmer, said jute sticks previously had little market value, but traders now collect them directly from farmers’ homes. Md Tajul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Magura, said jute sticks from the district are supplied to betel leaf farms in Barishal and Partex board mills.