Kalabari farmers cashing in on watermelons
Monday, 23 May 2011
Our Correspondent
GOPALGANJ, May 22: Watermelon cultivation has changed the economic condition of Kalabari farmers in Kotalipara of Gopalganj district, following a very successful production, of it. Cultivation has been the main lifeline for the farmers here for ages as the land is very fertile for the crops, which takes a relatively short time to cultivate. The farmers here are expecting a bumper watermelon production this season. According to Agriculture Extension Department (AED), Gopalganj, sources, a total of 1200 hectares of land have been brought under watermelon cultivation with a production target of 33,600 metric tonnes. The best fields for cultivation watermelon lie in Kalabari, Debgram, Degulia, Hezal Bari, Tantul Bari, Charpakuria, Baykanthapur, Phita Bari, Sara Bari, Narikal Bari, Paikardanga and Kaliganj in the district. Deb Das Mozumdar (28) of village Char Pukhuria under Kotalipara Upazila said the land of its areas is very conducive for cultivation of watermelon. Deb told this correspondent during a visit to his watermelon field that he will make a net profit of Tk 0.18 million from his yield. Some farmers said, if they get bank loan or other economic support from any sector they could produce more. It the cultivation of watermelon began in the month Pous with a target of harvesting in Baishakh. Moni Mahan Ballav (58) a businessman (Arathdar ) at Kaliganj told this correspondent, every day a huge quantity of watermelon is being supplied to district head quarters like Dhaka, Khulna, Pirojpur, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Faridpur and other parts of the country after meeting the local demand. Samir Kumar Goshami, agriculture officer of Kotalipara told The FE that the land of this areas is very fertile for cultivation of watermelon with smoothly supply of agri inputs as fertilizers, pesticides, water supply and so on.
GOPALGANJ, May 22: Watermelon cultivation has changed the economic condition of Kalabari farmers in Kotalipara of Gopalganj district, following a very successful production, of it. Cultivation has been the main lifeline for the farmers here for ages as the land is very fertile for the crops, which takes a relatively short time to cultivate. The farmers here are expecting a bumper watermelon production this season. According to Agriculture Extension Department (AED), Gopalganj, sources, a total of 1200 hectares of land have been brought under watermelon cultivation with a production target of 33,600 metric tonnes. The best fields for cultivation watermelon lie in Kalabari, Debgram, Degulia, Hezal Bari, Tantul Bari, Charpakuria, Baykanthapur, Phita Bari, Sara Bari, Narikal Bari, Paikardanga and Kaliganj in the district. Deb Das Mozumdar (28) of village Char Pukhuria under Kotalipara Upazila said the land of its areas is very conducive for cultivation of watermelon. Deb told this correspondent during a visit to his watermelon field that he will make a net profit of Tk 0.18 million from his yield. Some farmers said, if they get bank loan or other economic support from any sector they could produce more. It the cultivation of watermelon began in the month Pous with a target of harvesting in Baishakh. Moni Mahan Ballav (58) a businessman (Arathdar ) at Kaliganj told this correspondent, every day a huge quantity of watermelon is being supplied to district head quarters like Dhaka, Khulna, Pirojpur, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Madaripur, Faridpur and other parts of the country after meeting the local demand. Samir Kumar Goshami, agriculture officer of Kotalipara told The FE that the land of this areas is very fertile for cultivation of watermelon with smoothly supply of agri inputs as fertilizers, pesticides, water supply and so on.