Watermelon is being cultivated on the banks of Atrai river in Naogaon, farmers are happy with good yield

Naogaon Correspondent: Watermelon is one of the sweetest fruits of the honeymoon summer. Earlier it was available till a certain time of the year but now watermelon is available for most of the year due to the touch of agricultural technology. This fruit has a special demand especially in hot season.

At one time watermelon was widely cultivated in the Barind region of Naogaon, the northern food hub, but in the recent past, some farmers have started cultivating watermelon on the uncultivated banks of the Atrai River. Watermelon is being cultivated in several small and big chars along the banks of Atrai river in Patnitala upazila of Naogaon.

Farmers are happy to get good yield at low cost. Many people have cultivated watermelon commercially in Char this time as it is more profitable at lower cost. At one time the chars that arose in the river were lying uncultivated. Now the farmers are benefiting by cultivating watermelon in those uncultivated lands.

It has been seen on the spot that farmers of Nirmail, Matinder, Krishnapur, Patichara, Nazipur, Ghoshnagar and Shihara Unions of Patnitala Upazila have cultivated watermelon. Watermelon has also been cultivated in several small and large chars along the banks of Atrai river. Watermelon has doubled its yield this year. Most of the watermelon growers in the upazila come from neighboring villages.

These farmers, who have been in the char for a short period of time, have set up temporary settlements by pitching tents in the fields. When the watermelons are picked from the field, they will return to their area. According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, watermelon has been cultivated in 5 hectares of land on both sides of the river including Chhota Chandpur, Bara Chandpur, Purba Patichara and Bara Patichara areas of the upazila. Farmers have cultivated foreign varieties of Glory, Jambu, Orion and Banglalink. Watermelon growers are happy with good yield and good price of watermelon this year.

They are able to sell watermelons at a fair price as the communication system has improved. Many watermelon growers including Saheb Ali, Akhil Chandra and Rampal Chandra said that the yield of watermelon has improved this year with the technical assistance of the Upazila Agriculture Office. Approximately four thousand watermelons have been produced at a cost of Tk 25,000 to Tk 30,000 per acre. The estimated sale price is 5 lakh rupees. Besides, there is a lot of demand for watermelon in the market due to the hot weather this season and the month of Ramadan.

So along with watermelons from other areas, the demand for watermelons produced in our area is also very good. Watermelon has doubled its yield this year due to favorable weather. Prakash Chandra Sarkar, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said that bumper yields of watermelon have been achieved in several uncultivated chars of Atrai river in the upazila under the constant supervision and advice of Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officers.

Excluding costs, farmers are benefiting a lot. We have a manpower crisis. Still trying to help the farmers. He is also hopeful that the cultivation of this watermelon will be further expanded next year.