Farmers in the Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali are increasingly adopting the mulching method for watermelon cultivation, reporting a significant reduction in production costs alongside substantially higher yields.
Abul Hashem, a farmer from North Kachhapia village in the Char Jublee union, has been cultivating watermelons for a decade. After facing several years of low profitability using traditional techniques, he opted to experiment with the mulching method on a four-acre plot this season. Hashem noted that the new approach has decreased the necessity for irrigation and reduced expenditure on labour and pesticides. Furthermore, the method has helped mitigate concerns regarding soil salinity.
To safeguard his crop, Hashem integrated two additional pest management strategies: pheromone traps and adhesive plastic strips. The pheromone traps utilise chemical scents to attract and neutralise male fruit flies, while the sticky plastic sheets, mounted on small poles throughout the fields, capture various harmful insects. These interventions have resulted in a yield more than double that of conventional farming methods.
Another local farmer, Mozammel Huq, reported similar success after switching to mulching and replacing chemical fertilisers with vermicompost (earthworm fertiliser). He highlighted that the mulching paper effectively suppressed weed growth, which typically drives up costs in traditional farming. Huq anticipates that his profits this season will be more than double his investment. Inspired by these results, Amir Hossain, who has farmed watermelons for four years, announced his intention to adopt the mulching method next season after observing the high yields and low costs in neighbouring fields.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Harun-or-Rashid stated that watermelon cultivation in Subarnachar has reached approximately 900 hectares this year, marking an increase of 200 hectares compared to the previous year. He explained that the authorities are actively encouraging farmers to transition from expensive traditional methods to advanced technology.
As part of this initiative, 38 government-funded demonstration plots were established in the upazila this year to showcase organic mulching techniques, including the use of biodegradable mulching paper and pheromone traps. In addition to government support, many farmers have also found success through the assistance of private organisations.
