Khulna: Bidhan Mondal, a 42-year-old farmer from Paikgachha upazila, has garnered significant attention by cultivating 173 varieties of local and foreign fruits and vegetables within a year. With support from the Department of Agriculture (DoE), Mondal seeks to set a precedent in Khulna and beyond by promoting the growth of foreign fruits and vegetables in the saline-prone coastal belt.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the banks of the Dihibura canal, once deemed wasteland filled with trees, rats, and venomous snakes, have been transformed into a lush green belt. This transformation is credited to the efforts of Bidhan Mondal, a young canal leaseholder, and the guidance of agriculture officials, marking the beginning of an agricultural revolution in the area.
Mondal, hailing from Purba Gajalia, initially leased the 15-acre government canal for fish farming. However, he expanded his vision beyond fisheries, utilizing the adjacent 33 acres of abandoned canal banks for cultivating fruits and vegetables during the monsoon season.
Speaking with BSS, Mondal shared his introduction of both local and foreign crop varieties, including off-season watermelon, rock melon (sammam), pumpkin, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, and yard-long beans. These efforts have resulted in a total of 173 types of crops. Currently, the canal banks are lined with green trellises supporting 11 varieties of off-season watermelon, eight types of rock melon, and six types of pumpkin. Mondal has cultivated approximately 30,000 watermelon plants, with an anticipated harvest of 60,000-65,000 fruits.
Mondal sourced his seeds from YouTube-based farming groups, applying organic fertilizers and quality crop protection chemicals from Syngenta. With an investment of Tk 36 lakh, he expects returns to exceed Tk 10 lakh if plans proceed smoothly. The initiative has also generated daily employment for 40-45 individuals, while formerly idle landowners benefit from the commercial farming on their land.
Mondal has cultivated vegetables such as Japanese pumpkin and Thailand’s rutabaga, along with planting local and foreign seeds collected from countries like Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Despite his success, Mondal faces challenges with poor road connectivity, urging authorities to improve infrastructure for better market access.
As the scheduled harvest approaches in 10-12 days, Paikgachha’s off-season watermelon and rock melon project is considered a model of smart farming, inspiring commercial agriculture in Khulna’s canal-based landscapes. Local officials, including Ekramul Hossain, Paikgachha Upazila Agriculture Officer, and UNO Mahera Naznin, have praised Mondal as a role model for cultivating multiple crop varieties, with other farmers showing keen interest in similar ventures.
Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of Khulna Agriculture Zone, noted the increasing trend of farmers growing diverse vegetables and fruits alongside fish farming, aiming for significant profits and transforming the coastal districts’ agricultural landscape.