The farmers in Jhenaidah are going to make a net profit of Tk one lakh per bigha from their three-month duration summer watermelon farming. It has also been encouraging neighboring farmers to use their lands to cultivate this profitable short-term crop.
The government has been providing agricultural incentives, including seeds, fertilizers and necessary management costs of Tk 3,000 to expand this summer watermelon farming programme. The programme is supported by “Sustainable Agricultural Extension in Jashore Region Project,” better known as Teksai (Sustainable) project.
Giasuddin Munshi, 58, Resident of Bijulia village under Manaharpur union in Shailkupa upazila oj Jhenaidah district, when contacted, said he has cultivated summer watermelon on his 20 decimals of lands in this season. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the upazila had sanctioned him a demonstration plots of 20 decimals for this season.
The Department of Agricultural Extension had sanctioned seeds, fertilizer and management costs for the plot provided to him. He had to spend Tk 14,000 to 15,000 for the 20 decimal plots while he will receive at least Tk 65,000 when he will harvest the crops after 90 to 95 days. The farmer said the pedestrians, locals and neighboring farmers have been visiting his plot everyday and they are admiring his watermelon farming.
Sources from Deputy Directtor Office of Khamarbari Directorate of Agricultural Extension in Jhenaidah said they had sanctioned a total of 56 demonstration plots, each of 20 decimals, in the district in two phases. The number of demonstration plot provided in the upazilas are ten plots in Jhenaidah sadar upazila, Shailkupa upazila and bordering Maheshpur upazila, eight plots in Kaliganj upzila, seven plots in Harinakundu upazila and five plots in Kotchandpur upazila.
Nazmul Huda, Sub Assistant Agricultural Officer (SSAO) of Manaharpur block, when contacted, said the farmer had started farming the summer watermelon from June 3 this year and they are expecting to start the harvesting within the second week of August.
Upazila Agricultural Officer (UAO) of Shailkupa upazila, Mohammad Arifuzzaman, when contacted, said they were implementing the programme under Teksai project so that the farmers could expand the programme next year. It will certainly benefit the farmers and strengthen the socio-economic condition of the farmers. One of the most important objectives of the demonstration was to expand the watermelon farming in summer and reduce the dependency on fruits import with large amount of forex transactions every year.
