Watermelon farmers in Mirsarai, Chattogram, have suffered losses from heavy rain. Watermelon fields in low-lying areas were hit hardest by the continuous rain that began on the afternoon of 31 March. The agriculture department says about 20 per cent of the land planted has been damaged, and farmers fear much bigger losses if it rains again.

• Watermelon grown on 750 hectares this year
• Low-lying fields worst hit by the continuous rain
• About 20 per cent of the planted land damaged

A visit to Ichhakhali, Mithanala and Saherkhali unions of the upazila found water standing in watermelon fields after the heavy rain, with some of the ripe, half-ripe and young fruit under water. Farmers were busy pumping water out of the fields. Elsewhere, farmers sat gloomily at the edge of their fields.

According to the Mirsarai Upazila Agriculture Office, watermelon has been grown on 750 hectares this year in seven unions: Hinguli, Osmanpur, Dhum, Ichhakhali, Mithanala, Saherkhali and Katachhara. Farmers from Subarnachar upazila in Noakhali district leased land and came to Mirsarai to grow watermelon, and some local farmers followed their example. But the low-lying watermelon fields were damaged by the rain on 31 March, and the losses could rise if it rains again.

Mohammad Tarek, a farmer from Domkhali, said: "Alongside my studies, I grew watermelon on five acres this year. It cost about Tk 4 lakh. I have already sold Tk 4 lakh worth and recovered my capital. Just when I was about to see a profit from sales, the rain struck."

Abdul Hai, who farms watermelon on the western char of Mithanala union, said: "I took advances from moneylenders, NGOs and wholesalers in the city and spent Tk 30 lakh growing watermelon on 25 acres. This year the fields did not produce good watermelons anyway because of bad weather. Now what I grew through hard work will all be ruined by the water standing in the fields after the heavy rain. Things are such that I will not even recover my capital. If the government helped us a little, we could survive."

Shahadat Hossain, a farmer of Katachhara union, said: "I grew watermelon on eight acres this year. I harvested and sold only twice. After that, many watermelons were ruined by the rain. I do not know what to do."

Ashraf Uddin, convener of the Mirsarai upazila Krishak Dal, said: "I went to see watermelon fields in Saherkhali on Thursday morning. Many growers have been hit by the rain. If there is no more rain, there will not be much damage."

Mirsarai Upazila Agriculture Officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "Watermelon has been grown widely in several unions of Mirsarai this year. Besides the farmers from Subarnachar in Noakhali, many local farmers have also leased land to grow watermelon."

He said: "The sudden heavy rain on Tuesday afternoon left water standing in the fields and caused big losses to watermelon growers. About 20 per cent of the planted land has been damaged. Where the watermelons have matured, growers can reduce their losses somewhat by selling them quickly."

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