News Flash
JHENAIDAH, Nov 07, 2025 (BSS) - New possibilities have emerged in summer watermelon cultivation in Jhenaidah through the use of the mulching method, as farmer Abdur Rahim Badsha has achieved remarkable success by cultivating watermelons experimentally.
The sight of his thriving, juicy fruits has drawn crowds of curious visitors to the fields, while farmers and officials of the Department of Agriculture have expressed satisfaction over both the yield and the taste of the produce.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, farmer Abdur Rahim Badsha has cultivated watermelon in a field beside the Jhenaidah–Chuadanga road in the Holidhani block of Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila.
The seeds of the fruit were planted in the first week of September. The mulching method has been used to retain moisture in the roots of the watermelon plants. A loft has also been built to protect them from insect and spider attacks, he added.
Farmer Abdur Rahim Badsha told BSS, “Watermelons have been cultivated in 11 lofts or sheds on 52 decimals of land. We have grown this crop using the modern mulching method. Over 2,000 fruits have been harvested from the field. The size, color, taste, and quality of the fruits are very good.”
He said each fruit weighs between three and five kilograms, and when ripe, the watermelons are very sweet and delicious. “The plants began bearing fruit after two months of care, and the harvest can begin next week. I spent a total of Taka 40,000 to cultivate 52 decimals of land. In the meantime, I have already sold all the fruits from the field for Taka 1.25 lakh. On average, by cultivating summer watermelon for about two and a half months, one can earn between Taka 70,000 and 80,000,” he added.
Meanwhile, a special team from the Ministry of Agriculture visited the exceptional watermelon field.
The inspection team arrived at the field at 4:30 pm on Thursday to observe the ongoing activities under the project titled “Strengthening Nutrition and Food Security through Agricultural Development”, implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture, and “Strengthening the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing” (DPP), implemented by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).
Ferdousi Akhtar, Joint Head of the Crop Wing, Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Ratna Sharmin Kara, Deputy Head of the Crops Sub-Division of the same division, were present during the visit.
At that time, members of the inspection team expressed satisfaction after witnessing the bumper yield of summer watermelons.
Additional Deputy Director (Horticulture) of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Jhenaidah Office, Agriculturist Md Selim Reza; Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Md Noor A Nabi; and Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Holidhani Block under Sadar Upazila, Mofiz Uddin, were also present.
Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Md Noor A Nabi, said, “New possibilities have been created in the district through exceptional summer watermelon cultivation. We are regularly motivating farmers to engage in various types of profitable farming.”
Ferdousi Akhtar said, “We believe that farmers will become more interested in summer watermelon cultivation as it is a short-term crop. Our goal is to ensure all government facilities and provide overall support to farmers involved in this type of cultivation.”
