Watermelon turning fallow land lively in Khulna
Workers tending saplings in a watermelon field in Katianagla village of Khulna’s Batiaghata upazila. The scrumptious summer fruit is being cultivated on about 3,407 hectares of land in the district this year. Photo: Star
Only about ten to twelve years ago, thousands of acres of land in Khulna would remain uncultivated after the harvesting of Aman rice, but growing of watermelon there did not cross the farmers minds.
In course of time, the scenario has changed and a growing number of farmers in the district are cultivating watermelon on the unused land in the hope of making a quick buck.
Watermelon a game changer for Khulna’s coastal farmers
Farmers in Khulna were encouraged by last year’s results and began to cultivate watermelon on larger plots as it brought more profit than other traditional crops. Photo: Dipankar Roy
The people of Khulna had not even considered watermelon farming just 10 or 12 years ago, when thousands of acres of land would remain uncultivated after the aman paddy season.
Farmers in the district s Dacope and Dumuria upazila were engaged in shrimp farming while lands in Batiaghata upazila was used for sesame cultivation.
But things have changed in recent years as numerous farmers across the region have started cultivating watermelon in order to reap quick returns.