Sourav Chandra Howlader has succeeded in growing baby watermelon in the monsoon in Bhola. With no pest attacks, the crop did well, and he is earning money selling it in the market. The watermelons come in various colours and are as tasty as they are attractive, so demand is high. His success has made others keen to grow them too.
Sourav Chandra Howlader of Charpata village in Charpata union of Bhola's Daulatkhan upazila grew baby watermelon on a trial basis on 10 decimals of abandoned land. At low cost, the fruit began to swell in the field within 70 days. He was worried at first, but he has been smiling since the harvest came in. Each watermelon already weighs 2 to 2.5 kg, and there are now about 1,000 watermelons in the field. They are selling at Tk 60-70 a kg in the market.
From unemployed to grower
Sourav Chandra Howlader told Jago News that he was once unemployed. Rice farming did not pay much, so he thought about doing something else. About a year ago, workers from an NGO encouraged him to grow watermelon. After receiving training and free seed from the organisation, he started growing it on his own land. It cost him Tk 50,000.
He said his family members opposed him at first, but he went ahead regardless and succeeded within just 70 days. He has sold about Tk 60,000 worth of watermelons so far and says he will be able to sell another Tk 1 lakh worth.
Local farmers Ali Mia and Yunus Mia said: "We didn't know such profit was possible with so little cost and effort. We will grow this watermelon on a large scale in future."
Md Humayun Kabir, acting executive director of the Bhola Grameen Jan Unnayan Sangstha, told Jago News that three farmers had been given free training and seed this year. They grew the crop on a trial basis with great success, and the organisation will encourage farmers to grow it widely in future, he said.
Binoy Krishna Debnath, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bhola, told Jago News that this is the first time the watermelon has been grown in the district. With suitable soil and weather, farmers have succeeded with this new variety, he said.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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