A new opportunity has emerged in Jhenaidah district through summer watermelon cultivation using the modern mulching technique. Farmer Abdur Rahim Badsha has achieved remarkable success with experimental watermelon farming, drawing attention from locals and agricultural officials alike for the fruit’s quality, yield, and flavor.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Abdur Rahim Badsha cultivated watermelons on 52 decimals of land beside the Jhenaidah-Chuadanga road in the Halidhani block of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Using self-procured seeds, he planted the summer variety of watermelon in early September. To maintain soil moisture, he adopted the mulching method and constructed trellises to protect the plants from pest attacks. The lush green vines now hang heavy with ripe watermelons.
Speaking to BSS, Badsha said, “I cultivated watermelons under eleven trellises on 52 decimals of land using modern mulching technology. Over two thousand fruits have grown in total, and their size, color, taste, and quality are excellent.”
He added that each watermelon weighs between three and five kilograms and that the fruits would be ready for harvest within a week. “It took about two months of care to reach this stage. The total cultivation cost was around forty thousand taka, and I have already sold the entire yield for 1.25 lakh taka. In just two and a half months, summer watermelon cultivation can bring a profit of seventy to eighty thousand taka,” he said.
On Thursday afternoon, a special team from the Ministry of Agriculture visited the field to observe the innovative cultivation firsthand. The team’s visit was part of an ongoing mid-term evaluation under two projects: “Strengthening Nutrition and Food Security through Agricultural Development” implemented by the DAE, and “Strengthening the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM)” implemented by the Agricultural Marketing Department.
Among those present during the visit were Ferdousi Akhter, Joint Chief of the Crop Wing under the Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Institutions Division; Ratna Sharmin Jhora, Deputy Chief; and Priyanka Devi Pal, Senior Assistant Chief of the same division.
The visiting team expressed satisfaction with the bumper yield of summer watermelons. Also present were Additional Deputy Director (Horticulture) of the DAE district office, Agriculturist Md. Selim Reza; Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Md. Nur-e-Nabi; and Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Halidhani block, Mofiz Uddin.
Nur-e-Nabi stated that the district has shown great promise in cultivating summer watermelons through this innovative approach. “We are continuously encouraging farmers to adopt profitable and sustainable cultivation methods,” he said.
Ferdousi Akhter added that the short cultivation period makes summer watermelon farming highly attractive for farmers. “We believe this will inspire more farmers to take up the practice. Ensuring all necessary government support for such ventures remains our top priority,” she said.
