Off-season watermelon cultivation has emerged as a profitable venture for farmers in Khulna, opening up a new avenue for agricultural diversification and income generation. Supported by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and financed under the Agricultural Development Project for the Region, local farmers have been encouraged to adopt this high-value crop due to its short production cycle, relatively low cultivation cost, and high yield.
Significant Progress and Targets
As of July 14, 60 percent of the targeted off-season watermelons have been cultivated across Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail. The DAE has set a production target of around 37,000 tonnes of watermelon from 1,229 hectares of land across these four districts. Specifically, Khulna aims to produce 29,938 tonnes from 1,015 hectares, Bagerhat 2,120 tonnes from 68 hectares, Satkhira 4,221 tonnes from 123 hectares, and Narail 703 tonnes from 23 hectares.
Farmer Success Stories
Farmers in Khulna have reported significant success with off-season watermelon cultivation. For instance, Rahmat Ali of Kalikapur village cultivated hybrid varieties 'Smart Boy' and 'Mim Astha' on 33 decimals of land using the mulching method. His field was ready for harvest within 60 to 65 days of transplanting. Ali received seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and cash assistance from the Upazila Agriculture Office. He sold watermelons at wholesale prices ranging from Taka 60 to Taka 70 per kilogram, earning around Taka 2 lakh from his plot and making a net profit of approximately Taka 1.50 lakh after deducting production costs.
Encouraged by his success, Ali plans to expand watermelon cultivation in the coming seasons. Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Nazmul Huda highlighted the potential of climate-resilient, high-yield summer crops in boosting farmers' incomes. He noted that the successful implementation of the project has created strong interest among farmers in adopting modern watermelon cultivation technologies.
