Gopalganj peasants make good profit from watermelon farming

GOPALGANJ, Apr 26: Watermelon farmers of Kalabari union under Kotalipara upazila in the district are getting fair prices of their produce this season.
According to the DAE, Kotalipara, 685 hectares of land have been brought under watermelon cultivation in the area with the production target of 19,180 tonnes.
About 4,500 farmers' families in Buria, Malua, Masspara, Tetulbari, Hizalbari, Chalkpukuria, Ruthairpara, Kumria and Kaliganj villages of the union have attained financial solvency from the cultivation of the juicy fruit.
Ramendranath Halder, sub-assistant agriculture officer, Kaliganj block, said watermelon farming is profitable. Soil of the region is suitable for the cultivation of the crop.
Tapan Sarker (38), a farmer of village Masspara said he has cultivated watermelon on five bighas of land spending Tk 0.1 million. He expects to make a profit of Tk 0.15 million this year.
A good number of growers urged the authority concerned to arrange incentive facilities or easy-term bank loan for them so that they could bring more lands under the farming of the summer delicacy.  
Subash Hazra (45), a local businessman, said locally produced watermelon is being transported to Dhaka, Khulna, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Faridpur and other parts of the country everyday.
    alimuzzaman81@gmail.com