United News of Bangladesh

Farmers in Satkhira are increasingly turning to off-season watermelon cultivation, drawn by bumper yields and profits of up to Tk 1.5-2 lakh per bigha. The short-duration crop which can be harvested within about three months is proving increasingly attractive to farmers in the southwestern district, where salinity has long posed a challenge to agriculture. Farmers say relatively low production costs and good market prices are encouraging more people to take up watermelon cultivation. Jamal Uddin Sardar, a farmer from Gariyadanga village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, has cultivated more than a bigha of off-season watermelon and is expecting a bumper harvest. He said he has spent around Tk 60,000-70,000 on cultivation and expects to sell watermelons worth more than Tk 2 lakh. At the field, the watermelons are currently selling for Tk 40-45 per kilogramme. “The yield has been very good. If the market price remains favourable, I expect a good profit from the crop,” he said.  Alauddin Sardar has cultivated two varieties of watermelon on one bigha of land. This is his first attempt at watermelon cultivation, and he is hopeful of making a profit. “The plants have grown well and the fruits are looking good. I hope to make a profit from this cultivation,” he said. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said off-season watermelon has been cultivated on 143 hectares of land in Satkhira this year. The target yield has been set at 30-33 metric tonnes per hectare, while field-level indications suggest that production is good. The locally cultivated varieties include watermelons that are green outside with yellow flesh and yellow-skinned varieties with red flesh. Their sweet taste and attractive appearance have helped create strong demand in the market, allowing farmers to obtain comparatively better prices. Agriculture officials said the profitability of the crop is encouraging farmers to expand cultivation. Another advantage is its short cultivation cycle. Farmers can harvest the crop within 90-110 days and use the land for another crop, allowing them to generate additional income from the same piece of land. Agriculture officials are providing farmers with technical advice and support to improve production and manage cultivation challenges. Saiful Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said farmers were increasingly adopting watermelon cultivation because of its profitability and short production cycle. He said agricultural officials were providing necessary advice and assistance to farmers to encourage cultivation and improve yields.    

Under the warm September sun, Narail’s fields glow with an unusual sight -- plump, red watermelons ripening on the vines. Traditionally grown across Bangladesh from December to April, these luscious fruits are now flourishing out of season, bringing remarkable success – and handsome profits – to enterprising local farmers. At present, each kilogram of watermelon commands between Tk 80 and Tk 100, a price that has turned this off-season venture into a golden opportunity. Visitors are thronging the fields, eager not only to sample the sweet bounty but also to marvel at the sight of watermelons dangling in netted pouches, suspended neatly from bamboo frames. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Narail, some 23 hectares have been brought under off-season cultivation this year: 10 hectares in Sadar upazila, two in Lohagara, and 11 in Kalia. With technical guidance and timely incentives from the agriculture department, farmers – many of them first-timers – have discovered that this crop is both cost-effective and richly rewarding. A recent field visit to Mirzapur, under Bishali union of Sadar upazila, revealed the quiet industry behind this success. There, farmer Akinur Mallik leaned towards around 200 plants grown along the embankments of his fish enclosure. Bagerhat’s watermelon harvest brings a sweet summer promise “This is my first attempt, using 33 decimals of land. The agriculture office provided me with seeds, fertilisers and inputs. Prices are good and buyers come directly here. Next year, I’ll cultivate on a larger scale,” he said. The spectacle of off-season melons has become a local curiosity. Families stroll among the trellised plants, while young visitors snap selfies and record TikToks beside the burgeoning fruits. “We never saw watermelon farming in our area before. Now it’s become a place to hang out, take selfies and even make TikToks ,” said Suma Akter, a cheerful onlooker. Encouraged by Akinur’s success, farmer Zakir Hossain voiced his own enthusiasm for trying the method in the coming season. Further afield in Kalia upazila, veteran grower Pradip Barman recounted three years of cultivating watermelons. This year alone, he planted 10,000 seedlings across 95 acres of fish farms, including 7,000 watermelon plants. “The yield is excellent. The Banglalink variety weighs five to seven kilos each, while Tripti weighs two to three. I invested Tk five to six lakh, but expect Tk 12 lakh in returns,” he said. Agriculture officials are also optimistic about the trend. Jaintapur’s Watermelon Boom: From fallow lands to flourishing fields Roknuzzaman, Narail Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, confirmed that farmers are being encouraged with seeds, fertilisers and continuous field-level guidance. District DAE Deputy Director Md Jasim Uddin added that the acreage under cultivation is increasing every year thanks to this support. With enthusiasm spreading and yields proving bountiful, officials foresee Narail blossoming into a thriving hub for off-season watermelon farming, a sweet promise for the district’s agricultural future.