Mir Khairul Alam, Satkhira
Different species of fish are running in the water of the enclosure. And hundreds of watermelons are hanging on the scaffold above the water. This is a heartwarming scene. I was talking about off-season watermelon cultivation in Debhata, Satkhira district. Which has responded among the farmers. Farmers are benefiting by cultivating this watermelon at a low cost. It has been found out that the cultivation of this watermelon was started experimentally as a fallow land in the fish enclosure. Which is currently successful for many farmers.
According to the information of the Debhata Upazila Agriculture Department, this year, about 50 farmers have joined this watermelon cultivation. Separate land is not required for cultivation. This watermelon is being cultivated very easily in the fish enclosure. The amount of cultivation is increasing every year as it shows the face of profit in a short time. This year, bumper yields have already been obtained in 3 exhibitions of the upazila. In addition, the Department of Agriculture provided watermelon seeds to 50 farmers. Among them are improved varieties Supreme Hani, Tripti, Black Baby, Sugar Queen and Bangla Link. 100 grams to 120 grams of seeds can be planted per bigha of land. Off-season watermelon is currently being sold in the market for 70 to 80 taka per kg. Many are leaning towards cultivating this watermelon on their own land in their enclosures. Biswanath Tapali, a watermelon farmer from Ticket village of the upazila, said that the way a crop can be grown in freshwater. In brackish water, diseases and pests are controlled by carrying water from a tubewell in a bucket and constant care. Growing a crop in this way is very difficult. Not everyone can evaluate it. The first consignment of Asmeyar watermelon was sold for 40 thousand taka. The harvest can still be harvested twice. I have planted it in a total of 6 bigha of land. Hopefully, the money from the land rent for the whole year will be recovered by selling the watermelon.
Farmer Abul Kashem said, this watermelon is as beautiful to look at as it is very sweet to eat. There is a lot of demand in the market. He hopes to sell watermelon worth about 2 lakh taka.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Mostafa Mostaq Ahmed said, Debhata agricultural family is looking for gold in the salt. For that purpose, although there was no interest in off-season watermelon cultivation at the field level at first, now there is a response among the farmers. We are trying to bring the fish ponds or wasteland under agriculture through our utmost efforts.
Debhata Upazila Agriculture Officer Shawkat Osman said, where the fish ponds were not under cultivation in the past, we have made those lands suitable for cultivation. Farmers in Debhata Upazila are benefiting especially from vegetable and off-season watermelon cultivation. We are providing seeds, fertilizers and regular advice. Farmers are being encouraged from our office to ensure that no land remains fallow. This has increased the agricultural production in the upazila and is also playing a role in the economy.