Photo: BSS

KHULNA, April 14, 2025 (BSS) - With growing interest in agribusiness across the country's coastal region, watermelon cultivation is gaining popularity among educated unemployed youths in Khulna as a means to achieve economic self-reliance.

Due to its low production cost and quick marketing opportunity, watermelon-one of the most profitable Rabi crops-is being cultivated on an increasing scale across various parts of Khulna, the largest watermelon-producing district in the country.

After failing to secure a suitable job, Shanta Kumar Mondal, 40, a graduate resident of Kumarkhali village under Garuikhali union of Paikgachha upazila in Khulna cultivated hybrid F-1 variety watermelons on 25 bighas of land.

His fields are brimming with fruit within just 60 days. By the next two weeks, Shanta hopes each watermelon will weigh between 8 to 10 kilograms.

Talking to BSS, he said the production cost per bigha is around Taka 25,000-30,000. The expected sales revenue is about Taka 1 lakh per bigha.

Many unemployed graduates are currently earning a livelihood during this Rabi season by working on Shanta's watermelon farm.

"Now, I earn Taka 10 to 12 lakh annually through cultivating watermelon side by side from sweet lime (Malta) and a small shrimp enclosure," Shanta said.

Like Shanta, hundreds of educated youths are cultivating watermelons in Paikgachha upazila and elsewhere in the coastal belt.

Talking to BSS, master's graduate Imran Hossain and Mithun of Garaikhali Union shared the same experience as Shanta.

"We started watermelon farming as it is a profitable crop in these saline-prone coastal lands," they added.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), watermelon has been cultivated on 2,140 hectares of land in Paikgachha Upazila this season, 700 hectares more than last year.

However, watermelon farming is not without challenges. Farmers are experiencing the lack of natural water bodies, good communication and interrupted electricity supply, which disrupted the cultivation of the profitable crop.

To mitigate water crisis, local farmers now rely on alternatives, like electronic pumps to irrigate their fields, leading to increased production costs.

Farmers said if canals are excavated and roads are developed, production costs could be reduced and marketing would become easier.

They also pointed out that better road communications, uninterrupted electricity supply, and digging of canals would double the watermelon yield.

Paikgacha Upazila Agriculture Officer Ekramul Hossain told BSS that farmers are being supported with quality seeds and regular advice. Initiatives have also been taken to increase irrigation facilities through canal excavation.

Talking to BSS, Md Rafiqul Islam, additional director of Khulna DAE, said, "Watermelon is a highly profitable crop. Last year's yield was excellent. So farmers have expanded cultivation this year."

"Watermelon cultivation is opening new doors of economic prosperity for the region. Many educated youths are cultivating watermelon considering huge income instead of job," he added.

DAE officials expect that over 56 lakh tonnes of watermelon will be harvested from 18,055 hectares of land in the Khulna agriculture zone this year, with an estimated market value exceeding Taka 1,500 crore.

In the 2024-25 Rabi season, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had initially set a target of cultivating watermelon on 13,432 hectares of land in the zone, aiming for a production of 54.96 lakh metric tonnes.

However, the actual cultivated area surpassed the target, reaching 18,055 hectares-an achievement of 134.42 percent. The Khulna agriculture zone comprises the districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail.