Summer watermelon farming gains profit in Pabna

PABNA, July 18: Juicy summer fruits of Blackbaby watermelon are hanging in nets in untimely bulks in the district.
 
Grower couple of Nilufa-Rezaul in Atgharia Upazila have cultivated this variety of watermelon. With the help of local organization financing by PKSF and it makes profitable. 

To make marginal farmers of Atgharia, Iswardi and Sadar upazilas of Pabna financially self-sufficient and meet the nutritional needs of their families, private development organization PKSF has been supporting the farmers under overall supervision of Jagarani Chakra Foundation; round the clock technical support is being provided.

The per bigha cultivation cost stands at Tk 35,000 to 40,000. But the profit per bigha is about Tk 2 lakh.
Growers are happy for getting profits of the fruit in two and a half months.

Grower Rezaul Karim Bachchu and his wife Nilufa of Harulpara Village in Atgharia Upazila have responded to the area by cultivating this variety of watermelon.

Grower Rezaul Karim Bachchu said, "I never cultivated this type of watermelon before; I am getting a lot of profit; the demand of the fruit is also good in the market; I will expand my farming of the fruit in the future."

JCF Agriculturist Abdul Majid Samrat said, they train farmers in modern technology; farmers are getting good profits by cultivating this watermelon.

Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension in the district Jamal Uddin said, the blackbaby watermelon is unseasonal variety; so farmers are getting a lot of profit.
 
Its cultivation will increase in the future, he added.