Off-season watermelon brings Narail farmers windfall profits

NARAIL, Aug 16 (UNB): Farmers in Narail district saw profits multiply up to six times from production of off-season watermelons in Kalia upazila, thanks to the local agricultural department officials who introduced the high-yielding variaety of the succulent fruit in the area.
Normally, Februa0ry to April is the season of the mouth-watering summer fruit but officials of the local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) introduced the variety in Kalia upazila during monsoon.
A total of eight hectares of land in Kalia upazila are being used to grow the off-season watermelons, with a target to produce 15 tonnes of the fruit per hectare.
The DAE officials provided fertilisers, seeds and cash to the farmers and with their help, watermelons are being cultivated along the edges of the fish enclosures and water-bodies in Gobindanagar, Salamabad, and Bhaktadanga areas.
Farmers are growing Asian-2, Tripti and Black Baby hybrid species of watermelon in plenty, which taste sweet and delicious.
Farmers say they spent Tk15,000-20,000 per hectare and sold watermelons worth Tk0.15 million (1.5 lakh) to 0.2 million (2 lakh) per hectare.
Sheikh Kamal Hossain, a resident of Bhaurir Char in the upazila and assistant professor at Nabadanga Degree College, said, "I took training from Dumuria upazila of Khulna district and after that, I have planted 1000 saplings of watermelon on seven acres of land along the fish enclosures on an experimental basis last year. I have earned Tk 0.2 million (2 lakh) from this."
This year, he planted 2000 saplings on the same land spending Tk 70,000. He expects an income of Tk0.4 million (4 lakh) from watermelon production this season.
Pradeep Kumar Barman, councilor of ward-6 under Kalia municipality, said this year he planted 12,000 saplings along the banks of 150 bigha of fish enclosures during monsoon. "So far I have spent Tk one million (10 lakh). Within 35 days, flowers started to bloom and I started harvesting watermelon within 60-65 days of planting. Each watermelon weighs almost 4 kg."
He also expected to produce 0.2 million (2 lakh) kgs of watermelon this year and if the market prices remain favorable, he could be able to earn Tk 4 million (40 lakh).
Depak Kumar Roy, deputy director of Narail DAE, said the farmers are earning profits up to six times depending on their expenditure, within 60-65 days of cultivation. "We are providing all-out support through using smart technology and providing fertilisers and pesticides for good production of watermelon."
Eva Mallik, Kalia Upazila Agriculture Officer, said "Watermelon is no longer a seasonal fruit now, and it can be produced throughout the year. Flowers start to bloom within 40-50 days of planting saplings and 70-80 days are needed for harvesting."