The dream of young agri-entrepreneur Iqbal Hossain was washed away by floodwater. He had grown summer watermelon and the crop was very good. After he had sold several pickings, the most devastating flood in memory submerged and ruined all the watermelons in his field. His labour and capital were swept away before his eyes; far from making a profit, he lost about Tk 2 lakh. But he did not give up. Once the flood damage was over, he started growing summer watermelon again. In a while he will begin harvesting and selling, and if the weather stays favourable he hopes to sell about Tk 4 lakh worth of watermelons.

Iqbal Hossain lives in Masjidia village of Khaiyachhara union in Mirsarai upazila. Following his example, many others have become interested in growing summer watermelon and other crops. This season he grew summer watermelon on 50 decimals using mulching and organic methods at a cost of Tk 1 lakh 80 thousand, with summer green chilli and tomato on the same land as companion crops. When the crop began to come in, the hopeful farmer's expectations rose.

But in mid-August, heavy rain, water from upstream and hill runoff flooded Feni and Mirsarai for seven days in a row and submerged Iqbal's watermelon field. Despite the Tk 2 lakh loss, Iqbal did not give up. Borrowing from local NGOs and relatives, as soon as the floodwater went down he raised seedlings in seedling trays using a mix of organic fertiliser and coco feed, and planted watermelon, rock melon and cucumber on the beds, pinning his hopes on them once more.

In Iqbal Hossain's field, watermelons of different colours grown under mulch were hanging from the vines, and he was busy tending the field with several workers. He has planted high-yielding summer watermelon varieties Surjodim, Black Baby, Black Sign, Big Bite and East. As companion crops he has grown Long Japan Tamim Plus cucumber from United Seed and Bubbly and Bahubali tomatoes. Improved guava and various foreign fruits also grow in his field. The watermelon and cucumber plants have started to bear; he has already begun marketing cucumbers and hopes to sell watermelons by the end of this month.

Iqbal Hossain said: "When the flood began last August, I had only just started selling the watermelons from my 50 decimals. After one or two market days, everything rotted under the floodwater. The tomato and green chilli fields were also submerged and ruined. That field cost Tk 2 lakh to grow. At the time I was expecting to sell Tk 5 lakh worth in all. But I lost even my capital."

"After getting over the flood, I borrowed money and, with help from the agriculture office, grew watermelon again to get back on my feet," he said. "If all goes well I am hopeful of a profit. A while ago the upazila agriculture officer came to see my field, and an agriculture secretary was with him."

He added: "Being in debt, I am somewhat depressed. If the government arranged loans, it would be easier to get back on my feet. If poly-sheds could be provided to farmers by the government, farmers could grow crops in bad weather. That would greatly expand agriculture and encourage unemployed young people into farming."

Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "Watermelon grower Iqbal was badly hit by the flood. He overcame the loss and planted watermelon again, and the crop is good. I have already visited the field several times. If the weather stays favourable, he may sell well this time. Iqbal is a very hard-working farmer. Following his example, many are growing summer watermelon and other crops."

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