New opportunities in off-season watermelon cultivation have emerged in Jhenaidah. Farmers are inspired to use this mulching method in the district.
Local farmer, Abdur Rahim Badsha, has achieved remarkable success using the modern mulching method.
His experimental summer watermelon field, located beside the Jhenaidah-Chuadanga road in the Holidhani block of Sadar upazila, has become a local attraction, drawing crowds eager to see the lush green vines and juicy fruits.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Abdur Rahim planted watermelon seeds in early September on 52 percent of his land using the mulching technique to retain soil moisture. To protect the plants from pests, he also built lofts or sheds, where fresh watermelons now hang in abundance.
鈥榃e have cultivated watermelon in 11 lofts using modern methods and harvested over 2,000 fruits so far,鈥� said Abdur Rahim, adding that each fruit weighs between 3 and 5 kilograms with excellent taste and colour.
The farmer spent around Tk 40,000 on cultivation and has already sold fruits worth Tk 1,25,000, earning a net profit of up to Tk 80,000 in just two and a half months.
A special inspection team from the Ministry of Agriculture recently visited the field under the project titled 鈥楽trengthening Nutrition and Food Security through Agricultural Development鈥�.
The delegation, led by Ferdousi Akhtar, joint head of crop wing, expressed satisfaction over the impressive yield and quality of the produce.
Officials including additional deputy director (horticulture) Krishibid Md Selim Reza and sadar upazila agriculture officer Md Nur A Nabi praised the initiative, describing it as a model for other farmers.
Md Nur A Nabi said, 鈥楾his exceptional cultivation has opened new possibilities for summer watermelon farming in the district. We are motivating more farmers to adopt such profitable practices.鈥�
Ferdousi Akhtar added, 鈥楢s a short-term crop, summer watermelon can significantly boost farmers鈥� income. The government is committed to providing all necessary support to expand such innovative cultivation.鈥�
With this success, Jhenaidah鈥檚 summer watermelon may soon become a symbol of smart, sustainable, and profitable agriculture across Bangladesh.
