The lifeline for farmers
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Alimuzzaman
Rupchand Biswas, a watermelon farmer, is elated as he works with others employed by him in his field under Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj district.
Watermelon cultivation has been a lifeline for the farmers here as the lands are very fertile for cultivating the crop, which takes a very short time to attain the stage of harvesting and also fetches good returns.
The farmers of Pitabari under Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj expect a bumper watermelon production this season.
According to the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials posted in the district, a total of 1000 hectares of land were brought under watermelon cultivation with a production target of 28,000 tonnes in the district this season.
Of the total land areas earmarked for watermelon, 725 hectares lie only in Kotalipara upazila with a production target of 20,300 tonnes and another four upazilas share 275 hectares with a production target of 7,700 tonnes.
The best fields for cultivating watermelon lie in Pitabari, Sarabari, Kaliuzira, Nirkalbari, Bagunbari, Puishoor and Sahapur in the district.
Rupchand Biswas (55) of the village Pitabari under Kotalipara Upazila said the fields in their areas are very fertile for cultivating watermelon.
He added that they made a net profit of Tk 180 thousand by cultivating watermelon on 100 decimals of land last year. Watermelon cultivation is profitable, no doubt, if compared to other crops, he added.
Some farmers were very upbeat about the prospect for bumper yields and fair prices.
"After spending Tk 18,000 to 20,000 per bigha (52 decimals), we are selling the produce at Tk 80,000 to 90,000," a farmer said.
Farmers take around three months to harvest watermelon after cultivation and there is no other crop, which takes so short time for harvesting.
Rupchand Biswas, a watermelon farmer, is elated as he works with others employed by him in his field under Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj district.
Watermelon cultivation has been a lifeline for the farmers here as the lands are very fertile for cultivating the crop, which takes a very short time to attain the stage of harvesting and also fetches good returns.
The farmers of Pitabari under Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj expect a bumper watermelon production this season.
According to the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials posted in the district, a total of 1000 hectares of land were brought under watermelon cultivation with a production target of 28,000 tonnes in the district this season.
Of the total land areas earmarked for watermelon, 725 hectares lie only in Kotalipara upazila with a production target of 20,300 tonnes and another four upazilas share 275 hectares with a production target of 7,700 tonnes.
The best fields for cultivating watermelon lie in Pitabari, Sarabari, Kaliuzira, Nirkalbari, Bagunbari, Puishoor and Sahapur in the district.
Rupchand Biswas (55) of the village Pitabari under Kotalipara Upazila said the fields in their areas are very fertile for cultivating watermelon.
He added that they made a net profit of Tk 180 thousand by cultivating watermelon on 100 decimals of land last year. Watermelon cultivation is profitable, no doubt, if compared to other crops, he added.
Some farmers were very upbeat about the prospect for bumper yields and fair prices.
"After spending Tk 18,000 to 20,000 per bigha (52 decimals), we are selling the produce at Tk 80,000 to 90,000," a farmer said.
Farmers take around three months to harvest watermelon after cultivation and there is no other crop, which takes so short time for harvesting.