Naogaon is famous for its granaries. Naogaon is rich in paddy production as well as all kinds of vegetables including potato, pointed gourd, green chilli and bottle gourd.
Recognized as the commercial capital of mango, Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district is also famous for the production of Nak Fazli mango.
Recently, with the overall cooperation of the Upazila Agriculture Extension Department, a farmer has got great success in cultivating watermelon of Charisma variety which can be cultivated all around the year.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, watermelon is not cultivated in the upazila. In the case of watermelon, this upazila is completely dependent on imports from other districts. AR Malik Seeds, an importer, brings charisma watermelon seeds from Sakata, Japan.
This charisma watermelon of a hybrid variety was cultivated experimentally by a farmer as an exhibition project in collaboration with the Upazila Agriculture Extension Department.
Arman Hossain, a farmer from Palsha village in Bhola, Kola union, has achieved great success in experimental farming. 1 thousand to 1,200 Baromasi watermelon seedlings of Karisma variety can be planted in one bigha of land in dense and Machang method.
This watermelon is suitable for sale within 60 to 75 days of planting. Each tree planted at a distance of one to one and a half feet bears three to four fruits. Each weighs two and a half to three kilograms.
Farmer Arman Hossain said, “I am cultivating watermelon with the advice and overall cooperation of the Upazila Agriculture Office. At the beginning of June, I planted 400 watermelon seedlings of charisma varieties in 25 decimal of land. The trees have grown quite well. I started selling fruits two months after planting the seeds.”
He added that the total cost of cultivation on 25 decimal of land was Tk 25,000. I started selling watermelons from the second week of June. I have sold 300 kg watermelon at Tk 40 per kg. If all goes well, the amount of trees I have will yield two and a half to three thousand kg. The estimated cost will be more than one lakh taka.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Hasan Ali said watermelon is a fruit rich in many nutrients. It is rich in vitamins A, C, potassium and fiber which are very beneficial for the body. Watermelon cultivation of Charisma variety hybrid can be more profitable in less time and at less cost.
“We have had great success cultivating as an exhibition project. This variety of watermelon can be cultivated all year. The market price of Charisma variety of watermelon is also high.
Farmers of this upazila are becoming interested being encouraged to cultivate this variety of watermelon. If we cultivate more, we will be able to create a market for it. In this way the farmer can easily sell at a good price.”
