A large number of off-season watermelons swing under a scaffold at Raghunathpur in Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the district— FE Photo GOPALGANJ, Nov 09: The farmers of Raghunathpur union under Sadar upazila of the district earn huge profits by cultivating off-season watermelon.
Bidhan Biswas, a farmer of Raghunathpur village, said he cultivated 'Bengal Tiger' watermelon off-season on 15 decimals of land for the first time.
He also said the watermelon price is now high. It is being sold at Tk 50 to 60 per kg.
Growers get about 120 kg of watermelon from one decimal of land which market price is about Tk 6,500 and its production cost is Tk 1,800.
Bidhan further said farmers get huge profits through cultivating off-season watermelon.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gopalganj, a total of 12.25 hectares of land have been brought into off-season watermelon cultivation in the district this year.
The production target of watermelon is 9,077 tonnes and 250 farmers are involved in its farming in the district, DAE sources said.
Prodip Halder, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) under Raghunathpur union block-16 of Gopalganj Sadar upazila, told the FE that off-season watermelon farming began here two years ago.
Rajib Bala, a farmer of Digarkul village under Sadar upazila, said he also cultivated 'Bengal Tiger' watermelon off-season on 10 decimals of land, spending Tk 18,000.
"If the weather condition remains favourable, I will get about 30 maunds of watermelon, which price is Tk 66,000."
Mafroza Akther, upazila agriculture officer of Gopalganj Sadar upazila, told the FE that off-season watermelon farming has recently begun in the upazila.
"I think that off-season watermelon farming will provide economic support for growers in this region."
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