Yakub Ali and Foyez Mia have succeeded in growing year-round watermelon on fallow land in Shayestaganj, Habiganj. The two friends, from Nasratpur village in the upazila's Nurpur union, grew the Black Sweet-2 variety on 22 bighas of land that had lain uncultivated. Although rain caused some damage, they had a bumper harvest and have sold 20,000 watermelons.

Yakub Ali is the son of Yusuf Ali of Shibnagar village in Habiganj's Madhabpur upazila, and Foyez Mia is the son of Miab Ali of Satparia village in the same upazila. Together they leased the land for one year for Tk 2 lakh to grow the watermelons.

Foyez Mia said they come from farming families and make their living from agriculture, and have been growing various crops successfully. Growing year-round watermelon on the 22 bighas cost Tk 7 lakh, and sales came to about Tk 11.5 lakh.

"Our project has created work for 30 to 40 local labourers," Foyez Mia said. "But sad as it is, we are not getting any government grant or loan facility for this work. We are calling for government support and easy loans so we can carry on farming."

Shayestaganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Moshiur Rahman said: "The two entrepreneurs, Yakub Ali and Foyez Mia, confidently grew Black Sweet-2 year-round watermelon on 22 bighas of fallow land. The agriculture office gave them advice around the clock."

"With the bumper watermelon yield, they will recover their costs and make a further profit of Tk 3 to 4 lakh," he said. "We want no land to lie fallow. Our aim is to bring about a revolution in agriculture by giving farm entrepreneurs all-out support."

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