Watermelon farmers of Bhola district are happy with good yield of this popular summer fruit as they are getting good price this year. Farmers are now passing busy days harvesting their produces and taking preparation for its transportation to other districts across the country.
Though the cultivation is less than the target, but Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is satisfied with the yield. Already 85 percent of watermelons have been cut and sold. The farmers said that they incurred huge loss in watermelon cultivation last year, but they are getting satisfactory price this year. Although they were tensed about the market price or easy transportation due to coronavirus outbreak, but it has not affected the market.
Watermelon has been cultivated extensively in the vast lands of Vedumia Union in Bhola Sadar this year as well. During this season, farmers mostly cultivate watermelon and paddy. Especially the interest in watermelon cultivation is much higher. Mumin, a watermelon farmer in Velumia area, said that the yield of watermelon is very good. COVID-19 has not affected the watermelon market. We are getting fairly good prices.
"This year I have planted watermelon on 640 per cent of the land and spent about Tk 2.20 lakh. Some watermelons were sold in Barisal market and some directly from the field. So far, watermelons worth Tk 3.5 lakh have been sold. On Thursday, I sold fresh watermelons worth Tk 20,000, he added.
Another watermelon farmer Akbar said that it cost him Tk 30,000 to cultivate watermelon on 88 percent of the land but his overall profit is Tk 48,000. He is satisfied with the price.
Nurul Haque, a watermelon farmer in Baghmara area, said he had spent Tk 26,000 to cultivate watermelons on 80 per cent of the land, but sold the watermelons for Tk 32,000 direct from field only. Favourable weather and suitable land helped farmers to have a bumper yield this year. According to the district DAE, with a production target of 10,500 hectares this season, watermelon was cultivated in 7772 hectares of land. Most of these have been planted in Charfassion upazila.
Besides, watermelon was cultivated in 620 hectares in Sadar upazila, 30 hectares in Daulatkhan upazila, 130 hectares in Borhanuddin upazila, 12 hectares in Tajumuddin upazila, 39 hectares in Lalmohan upazila and 1 hectare in Monpura upazila. The district has produced 3,70,656 metric tons of watermelon this year.
Harlal Madhu, deputy director of Bhola Agricultural Extension Department, said that the yield of watermelon has improved. Moreover, the market price is also satisfactory. Growers are now selling the popular summer fruit in their fields and wholesalers from different areas including Dhaka, Barisal, Chattogram and Noakhali are buying the item. Farmers of this district cultivated watermelon this year. They were gradually being interested in farming the tasty summer fruit because of its profitability.
