Transaction target set at Tk 900 cr

Hosneara Parvin Khuku, Khulna:

Farmers and traders in Khulna region are now expecting brisk business of watermelon this year due to favourable weather and high prices.

Watermelon, a thirst quenching delicious summer fruit, has now started appearing at different markets in Khulna and its adjoining areas. But dissatisfaction prevails among the low and middle income group of people in the areas due to its high prices as most of them can’t take its taste so far due to lack of enough affordability, many said.

AED Khulna office sources said, there are various qualities of watermelons in the markets. Some of them come from the coastal Kuakata in Patuakhali district, while some from northern region especially from greater Chalan Beel.

Sikder Noor Islam, a watermelon retailer in the city said, “A big sized melon weighing about 5kg to 6kg is being sold at Tk 200 to Tk250 (Tk 40 per kg). Similarly, locally produced melon weighing about 3kg to 4 kg is being sold between Tk 100 and Tk 120 (Tk 30 per kg). The demand of locally produced melons is high in the markets.

Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khulna Md Nazrul Islam said watermelon cultivation on commercial basis started in the district about fifteen to twenty years ago. Day by day, the trend is on the rise.

DD Md Nazrul Islam said that, “The farmers of Batiaghata, Dumuria, Dacope, Paikgachha, Koyra of the district have brought about 17,291 hectares of land under watermelon cultivation and the production has reached to 6,91,640 tonnes with an average yield rate of 40 tonnes per hectare this year.”

The official also claimed that, this season, farmers of the area have set up a transaction target at about Tk 900 crore in this sector.

Farmers cultivate various varieties of watermelons including Pakija, Sweet Dragon, Marvelon, Anarkoli and Kalo Manik in their land.

On the other hand, watermelons produced in Khulna district’s Batiaghata, Dumuria, Dacope, Paikgacha and Koyra upazilas are also selling in the hats and bazaars of the rural areas. The price of local variety watermelon is comparatively cheaper than others. This is why, Khulna dwellers prefer local varieties due to its sweetness and better size.

The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute and many NGOs have supplied adequate quality seeds and other inputs necessary to the farmers. Besides, they have provided technical assistances according to their needs, he added. Alongside, different banks have also provided loans among the farmers to make the watermelon cultivation target success.

Favorable climate, moderate rain, comparatively less pests attack and adequate supply of chemical fertilizers were the main reasons behind the bumper production of this delicious product, the official claimed. Hundreds of growers have launched harvesting the watermelons with joy as they are getting production beyond their expectations.

Tarapado Bhowmick, a watermelon cultivator of Hadda village under Koyra upazila told The Daily Sky that, “I had cultivated watermelons in two acres of land and spent about Tk 60,000 (sixty thousand). I have already sold the fruit worth about Tk 90,000 (ninety thousand) and hope to get about Tk 70,000 (seventy thousand) by selling the rest. Earlier, I used to cultivate different types of vegetables on my land. But, I did not get expected benefit. Consequently, I have changed my decision and this year, I have cultivated watermelon instead of other crops. Due to changing my decision, I have become benefited this time thanks to Allah.”

According to Nutrition Research Council, a watermelon consists 95.6 gram of aqua protein, 3.3 mg sugar, 7.9 gm iron, 0.3 gm calcium, 11mg protein, 0.2 mg vitamin B, 0.04 gm ascorbic acid, 0.3 gm fat and 16 mg calories food energy. Taking watermelon increases nutrition and nourishment and it also cures night blindness.

The watermelon growers expect that the authorities concerned will take necessary steps to ensure better marketing facilities for the field level farmers and traders.

The farmers and villagers have been showing more interest in seasonal cash fruits watermelon farming because they are being benefited from this crop. Day labourers in the area also feel happy as they are getting reasonable wages from this sector.