Jaintapur's Watermelon Boom: From fallow lands to flourishing fields

A sea of lush green vines sprawls across the fields of Jaintapur, each cradling vibrant watermelons that glisten under the late winter sun.

This year, the farmers of this upazila in Sylhet have reaped a bumper harvest, with their produce not only flooding local markets but also making its way to wholesale hubs in Dhaka, Cumilla, and Chattogram.

The Sarighat South Bazar area along the Sylhet-Tamabil highway is a sight to behold, where vendors line both sides of the road, their stalls brimming with the summer fruit.

Trucks and covered vans constantly load fresh watermelons, carrying them to eager buyers across the country.

Meanwhile, tourists and picnickers pause along the highway, drawn by the sweet scent of freshly harvested melons, picking up a few to savour.

Fallow lands turn into thriving fields

Jaintapur has seen a transformation in its agricultural landscape in recent years.

Farmers, who once left vast tracts of land uncultivated, are now successfully growing watermelons on these very plots. What started as an experiment on just 20 hectares of fallow land has now expanded to an additional five hectares this season.

According to the Jaintapur office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), watermelons have been cultivated on 130 hectares of land across six unions.

The upazila set a production target of 3,770 metric tonnes, a goal that has nearly been met.

"This season, 650 farmers have cultivated watermelons, and 110 of them have received demonstration plots with government support," a DAE official said.

Through this initiative, farmers were provided with high-quality seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides under the agricultural support programme.

A rewarding season for farmers

For local farmers, the success of this year's watermelon harvest is both encouraging and financially rewarding.

Salman Ahmed, a resident of Ward No. 7 in Jaintapur Union, cultivated watermelons on 12 bighas of land in Chatlarpar.

With an initial investment of around Tk 2 lakh, he has already earned Tk 4.8 lakh and expects to make an additional Tk 4 lakh by the end of the season.

"The return has been promising, but higher irrigation costs due to rising fuel prices and transportation difficulties caused by river erosion remain significant challenges," Salman noted.

Another farmer, Nur Uddin from Vitrikhel in Ward No. 8, received a demonstration plot from the agriculture department and cultivated watermelons on 6.5 bighas of land.

He has already earned Tk 1.5 lakh and is hopeful of doubling his income by the season's end.

Like Salman, he also stressed the need for better irrigation facilities. "Installing a deep tube-well or providing subsidised irrigation pumps could greatly ease the burden on farmers like us," he said.

Diverse varieties and high yields

This season, Jaintapur farmers have focused on cultivating popular watermelon varieties such as Banglalink, Anarkali and Glory.

The highest production has been recorded in Nizpat and Jaintapur unions, where 40 and 55 hectares of land, respectively, have been dedicated to watermelon farming.

Other unions, including Charikata, Darbast, Fatehpur and Chiknagul, have also contributed significantly to the harvest.

Jaintapur Upazila Agriculture Officer Shamima Akhtar highlighted the department's ongoing efforts to support farmers. "Through demonstration plots, training programmes, and field inspections, we are helping farmers improve their yields. Under the Climate Agriculture and Water Management Project, they have received subsidised seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides," she said.

She expressed optimism about expanding watermelon cultivation to more fallow lands in the coming years, ensuring greater prosperity for local farmers.

Bangladesh's watermelon boom

Watermelon cultivation has become a vital source of income for farmers across Bangladesh.

In 2021–2022, the country produced a record 25.47 lakh tonnes of watermelons, making it a major producer of the fruit.

The top watermelon-producing districts include Patuakhali, Khulna, Bhola, Noakhali and Barguna.

As demand for the fruit continues to rise, experts believe that Bangladesh has significant potential to export watermelons in the future.

With government support and improved agricultural practices, farmers like those in Jaintapur could not only meet domestic demand but also tap into international markets.

For now, as the watermelon season peaks, Jaintapur's farmers relish the fruits of their labour—both literally and financially.