Farmers in Satkhira are increasingly turning to off-season watermelon cultivation, drawn by bumper yields and profits of up to Tk 1.5-2 lakh per bigha.

The short-duration crop which can be harvested within about three months is proving increasingly attractive to farmers in the southwestern district, where salinity has long posed a challenge to agriculture.

Farmers say relatively low production costs and good market prices are encouraging more people to take up watermelon cultivation.

Jamal Uddin Sardar, a farmer from Gariyadanga village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, has cultivated more than a bigha of off-season watermelon and is expecting a bumper harvest.

He said he has spent around Tk 60,000-70,000 on cultivation and expects to sell watermelons worth more than Tk 2 lakh.

At the field, the watermelons are currently selling for Tk 40-45 per kilogramme.

“The yield has been very good. If the market price remains favourable, I expect a good profit from the crop,” he said.

 Alauddin Sardar has cultivated two varieties of watermelon on one bigha of land.

This is his first attempt at watermelon cultivation, and he is hopeful of making a profit.

“The plants have grown well and the fruits are looking good. I hope to make a profit from this cultivation,” he said.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said off-season watermelon has been cultivated on 143 hectares of land in Satkhira this year.

The target yield has been set at 30-33 metric tonnes per hectare, while field-level indications suggest that production is good.

The locally cultivated varieties include watermelons that are green outside with yellow flesh and yellow-skinned varieties with red flesh.

Their sweet taste and attractive appearance have helped create strong demand in the market, allowing farmers to obtain comparatively better prices.

Agriculture officials said the profitability of the crop is encouraging farmers to expand cultivation.

Another advantage is its short cultivation cycle. Farmers can harvest the crop within 90-110 days and use the land for another crop, allowing them to generate additional income from the same piece of land.

Agriculture officials are providing farmers with technical advice and support to improve production and manage cultivation challenges.

Saiful Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said farmers were increasingly adopting watermelon cultivation because of its profitability and short production cycle.

He said agricultural officials were providing necessary advice and assistance to farmers to encourage cultivation and improve yields.