Good prices delight melon cultivators

NATORE, Apr 30: Melon cultivators in Chalan Beel area are satisfied over the present market price this season.

Sources said most of the peasants started melon cultivation after harvesting T-Aman paddy. They also applied modern method in growing the popular fruit.

Melon farming is popular among the peasants of the area low production cost and high profit, sources said, adding, harvesting generally starts from middle of the Bengali month 'Chaitra' and it continues till last week of 'Jaistha'.

Locally-produced melon is sent to different parts across the country.

Trader Hamidul Islam of Shira upazila said he purchases some 200 melons from the farmer directly at Tk 1500 and sells those at Tk 2000 to Tk 2200 daily.

Deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Natore, Md Rafiqul Islam said more than 420 hectares of land in Chalan Beel area were brought under melon cultivation.

To grow the fruit on a bigha of land, a farmer needs to spend around Tk 6,000 to Tk 7,000 and makes a profit of Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000, the official added.

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