Farmers in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram have succeeded in growing summer watermelon, and the area under the crop is growing day by day. The fruit has been grown in various parts of the upazila, and harvesting and sales have already begun. Watermelon is selling wholesale at Tk 90-100 a kg, and each fruit weighs from one and a half to 6 kg. The crop is grown with mulching and organic methods, with support from the upazila agriculture department.

According to the upazila agriculture department, summer watermelon was grown on a trial basis for the first time last year by 8 farmers on 1 acre of land. A demonstration was held on 50 decimals under the Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP). This year the crop covers 3 acres, and the department hopes it will grow further.

On the ground, the fields use organic and mulching methods, with pheromone traps and yellow cards to control insects. Yellow King, Black Baby, Robi, Surjodim, Smart Boys and Landfai varieties hang from the plants. The crop is grown at Sonapahar in Zorarganj union, Char Sharat in Ichhakhali union and Masjidia in Khoiyachhara union. Mulching paper has been supplied to care for the plants, and the fruits are bagged and hung from trellises overhead. The flesh is red and tastes very good.

In Masjidia, farmer Iqbal Hossain has grown watermelon on 50 decimals, Abu Naser and Mohammad Liton on 35 decimals, Bechumia on 35 decimals, Md Yusuf on 35 decimals, Shahedul Islam Shahed on 40 decimals, Abdul Kuddus on 15 decimals and Mohammad Helal on 15 decimals.

Farmer Iqbal Hossain said: "I've grown watermelon on 50 decimals at a cost of Tk 1 lakh 40 thousand. If the weather holds, I can sell about Tk 4 lakh worth. Besides the local market, the watermelons go to the fruit wholesale markets in Chattogram city. Last year, growing watermelon for the first time, I made a profit of about Tk 2 lakh. Last year I grew 2 varieties, this year 5. Following my example, 6 more people have grown watermelon for the first time."

Farmer Mohammad Shahedul Islam Shahed said: "Seeing Iqbal, I grew watermelon on 40 decimals. The crop is selling in the market. Each watermelon currently weighs one and a half to 6 kg, and it is selling wholesale at Tk 90-100 a kg. With little cost and effort, growing watermelon is giving a good profit. It is both juicy and sweet."

Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "This year summer watermelon has been grown on 3 acres in the upazila. We have given all-round support with seed, mulching paper and training, and the agriculture office monitors all the fields constantly. The soil here suits watermelon, and because of good prices the area is gradually expanding. We hope it will grow further."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.