Farmers in Patuakhali are celebrating a bumper harvest of watermelon this year, with buyers eager to purchase the fruit directly from the fields.
According to local officials, favourable weather conditions have played a significant role in the high yield. Watermelon has been cultivated on 27,079 hectares of land this season, nearly 4,000 hectares more than the previous year. The production target is set at 8.66 lakh tonnes.
A visit to Amkhola village in Galachipa upazila revealed vast fields of watermelons in various sizes, ready for harvest.
Farmer Barek Mridha shared, “With Ramadan approaching, the demand for watermelon is expected to rise. Wholesale buyers from different parts of the country have already arrived and are making advance payments.”
Mojibur Rahman, a farmer from Rangabali, echoed similar sentiments, confirming that traders from Dhaka and other regions have already made advance payments to many local growers.
Aslam Sheikh, a trader from Dhaka’s Kadamtali area, explained, “I am currently in Rangabali to purchase watermelons and will be sending them to Dhaka via launches.”
Md Nazrul Islam, deputy director of the Patuakhali Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), commented, “The fertile soil and favourable climate have greatly contributed to the high yields. This year, we expect the total sales revenue in the district to exceed Tk 2,000 crore.”
Related Information:
Watermelons are a popular fruit in Bangladesh, particularly during the hot summer months and the holy month of Ramadan. The spike in demand during Ramadan is driven by the fruit’s refreshing nature, making it a staple for iftar meals. The watermelon boom in Patuakhali not only benefits local farmers but also plays a key role in the regional economy. Traders from various parts of the country contribute to the distribution of this highly sought-after fruit. The increase in land dedicated to watermelon farming is also a response to consumer demand, positioning Patuakhali as one of the main suppliers of watermelons in Bangladesh.
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