Off-season watermelon cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers in Satkhira, with the crop now covering 141 hectares in seven upazilas this year, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
The area under cultivation has increased by around 65 hectares from the previous season, driven by relatively low production costs and high market prices.
Cultivating watermelons on one bigha of flat land costs around Tk40,000 to Tk45,000, while farmers can sell the harvest for Tk1.5 lakh to Tk2 lakh.
The cultivation began experimentally on fallow land and the embankments of fish ghers (enclosure) in areas including Satkhira Sadar, Tala and Debhata. Despite initial concerns over saline water, the first harvest proved successful, encouraging farmers in neighbouring areas to adopt the method.
Iqbal Hossain, a farmer from Tetulia in Tala upazila, said he achieved good yields using the mulching method and cultivated the Astha, Kaniya and Dragon Plus varieties. Wholesale traders from different parts of the country come to his farm to purchase the watermelons.
Shirina Begum, another farmer in the area, cultivated yellow off-season watermelons on two bighas after receiving seeds and fertilisers from the NGO Unnayan Prochesta. She expects a net profit of Tk1 lakh to more than Tk1.5 lakh after covering her costs.
Nayan Hossain, an agriculturist with Unnayan Prochesta, said 21 farmers in Tetulia union cultivated off-season watermelons on 28 bighas under the organisation’s SPD Agricultural project, with support from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).
The organisation provided seeds, organic fertilisers, organic pesticides and technical advice. Farmers are selling the bumper harvest wholesale at Tk45 to Tk50 per kg.
Md Yakub Ali, executive director of Unnayan Prochesta, said the organisation provides financial and technical support for off-season baby watermelon cultivation.
Farmers can earn Tk50,000 to Tk60,000 per bigha within a short period. The organisation provides Tk15,000 to each farmer, while the farmers bear the remaining costs, and also offers seasonal loans at very low interest rates.
Iqbal Ahmed, agriculturist and additional deputy director (crops) of the DAE, Khamarbari, Satkhira, said, the department has been distributing off-season watermelon seeds for trellis cultivation since 2020 through the GKBSP, SSCP and CCEP projects.
The DAE also provides quality seeds, fertilisers and trellis-building materials, along with technical advice and demonstration programmes through Upazila Agriculture Offices and sub-assistant agricultural officers.
Prominent varieties include Super King, Tripti, Black Berry and Yellow Board. The DAE said the crop is sweet and tasty, while favourable market prices have increased farmers’ interest in cultivation.
