FruitsOff-season watermelon covers about 141 hectares in Satkhira's seven upazilas this season, some 65 hectares more than last year, grown with bitter gourd, yardlong beans and cucumber on trellises along once-idle saline gher embankments.
In Galachipa, Patuakhali, farmers are growing off-season watermelons on trellises on fish-farm embankments and high ground; Palash Molla has about 1,450 fruits on 48 decimals for an outlay of Tk 40,000.
Manajir Rahman Mamun of Gomostapur, Chapainawabganj, grew the 'Behula' sweet pumpkin on 26 bighas through summer and the monsoon and has already sold Tk 920,000 worth against costs of about Tk 500,000.
Khurshed Alam, Sirajul Islam and Saidul Islam of Domabari village in Moulvibazar planted off-season watermelon under the Sylhet region agricultural development project; upazila agriculture officer Mahmudul Alam Khan says the method opens a way to higher profit from small plots.
In Bara Ajaldi village of Chandipasha union, Pakundia, he expanded after last year's profit and plans rice on the same plot once the melons are cut; the agriculture office says trellises, raised beds and mulching give a crop with little care and is handing out seed and fertiliser through demonstrati
