'Black Baby' watermelon on 33 decimals: Tk 55,000 spent, Tk 1.12 lakh sold

Selim Uddin, 54, a farmer in Dargah Para, Jhilongja union, Cox's Bazar Sadar, used to grow vegetables. Seeing the foreign 'Black Baby' watermelon sell at high prices in the market, he became interested. In the first week of May he sowed seed on his 33 decimals of land, fearful and unsure. With support from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and advice from IDF agriculture officers, he got a good crop within two months. By 24 August he had sold Tk 1.12 lakh worth, and Tk 20,000-30,000 worth was still in the field. His total cost had been about Tk 55,000. Each watermelon weighs 2-3 kg. He sells from the field at Tk 50-60 a kg, and fruit shops in Cox's Bazar town sell them at Tk 80-90 a kg. Agriculture officers say flowers and fruit come within 40 days of sowing, fruit is ready to eat 30-35 days after setting, and it can be grown two or three times a year except in winter. Summer watermelon had not been grown in the district before; this was the first time. Selim Uddin says that seeing the profit, many nearby farmers are interested, and a farmer from Ramu visited his field, learned the method and is thinking of growing two acres next season. He himself plans to triple his area next year.