Jhalokathi, Oct 17 (V7N) – A farmer in Kathalia upazila of Jhalokathi has achieved notable success by cultivating off-season watermelons on trellises, earning more than Tk 50,000 in sales from his first harvest and expecting total revenue to exceed Tk 1 lakh.

Md Emadul Howlader began cultivating the heat- and rain-tolerant Rose Gold variety on 50 decimals of land in Mahishkandi village under Chechri Rampur Union with support from the local agriculture office.

During a field visit, dark green watermelons could be seen hanging from trellises across the plot. With favourable weather and proper care, the crop has produced a bumper harvest, and marketing has already begun as the fruits ripen. Wholesale traders are purchasing watermelons directly from the field.

According to the agriculture department and local sources, the watermelons can be harvested about 70 days after sowing.

Emadul said his total production cost, from sowing to harvesting, was Tk 25,000. Watermelons are currently selling for Tk 2,000 per maund, he said, adding that he had already sold his first batch for Tk 50,000.

“With the amount of watermelon still remaining in the field, total sales will exceed Tk 1 lakh,” he said.

He said trellis-based watermelon cultivation was far more profitable than traditional rice farming and other crops. Encouraged by the results, he plans to expand cultivation next season.

His success has also created local employment opportunities. Several young people in the village said they had found work tending the watermelon field and harvesting the crop. Inspired by Emadul’s achievement, other local farmers are preparing to cultivate off-season watermelons on trellises.

Md Zahidul Islam Bashir, a sub-assistant agriculture officer in Kathalia, said farmers could obtain higher prices because the fruit was being produced off-season, while the crop also helped meet local nutritional needs.

He said trellis-grown watermelons of this variety had been cultivated on a total of one hectare in Kathalia during the current season. The agriculture office has been providing farmers with seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and technical guidance.

Kathalia Upazila Agriculture Officer Fatema Islam said off-season trellis watermelon farming had strong commercial potential and expected both the number of growers and the cultivated area to increase in the coming years.

END/MAI/SMA/