Sabera Jharna, Bagerhat
Lokman Sardar, Mamun Hawlader and Manik Hawlader, friends of Jilbunia village on the banks of Baleshwar River in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat, have become millionaires by cultivating watermelons. Seeing the success of their watermelon cultivation, many farmers in the area have said that they will stop cultivating potato next year. Due to salinity in this upazila there is bright potential for watermelon cultivation.
For many years, fishing in the river was the occupation of Lokman Sardar. He previously cultivated watermelon on a small plot of land before Sidr hit the region. With that experience, he and his friends Mamun and Manik mortgaged 6 bighas of land for 24,000 Tk for watermelon cultivation only. Each invested 60 thousand Tk for cultivating watermelon.
Going to see the watermelon field on the spot, it is seen that the whole field has been barricaded with net to protect the field. More than half a hundred sex pheromone traps have been set up in the fields to control insects. Thousands of watermelons catch the eye in the field.
At that time the successful farmer Lokman Sardar said - I make two thousand ‘Mada’ in six bigha land. I planted 6-1 hybrid watermelon aka Dragon King diamond seeds. I had to work hard day and night. My dream has come true at last. The cost of seeds, fertilizer, net, lighting, labor has been one lakh 60 thousand Tk. So far, watermelons worth Tk 4 lakh 20 thousand have been sold.
The watermelon that is still in the field will be sold for half a million Tk. We will each get about 1 lakh Tk this season as part of the profit.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishibid Wasim Uddin upon asking said that the soil of Sharankhola is suitable for watermelon cultivation due to salinity. This season, the yield of watermelon is good. Watermelon cultivation is very profitable.
The Department of Agriculture has advised the successful farmers in watermelon cultivation on all issues from the beginning of cultivation.
As an alternative to the use of pesticides, 40 sex pheromone traps have been provided by the Department of Agriculture to control harmful insects.
Besides, 5 exhibitions for non-season watermelon cultivation will be given to farmers in four unions of the upazila. The Department of Agriculture will provide them with seeds, fertilizers, sex pheromone traps.
