Khulna: Watermelons weighing 5-8 kilograms are hanging from trellises in different parts of the Khulna region, although it is not the usual watermelon season. Off-season watermelon farming has emerged as a profitable agricultural activity in the southwestern region, particularly among farmers who are cultivating the fruit on fish enclosures and fallow land with relatively low investment. Since shrimp farming expanded widely in the Khulna region in the 1980s, large areas of land along the embankments of shrimp enclosures have remained unused. Farmers are now using those spaces for year-round crop cultivation, including off-season watermelons, helping improve their livelihoods. Officials and farmers said the cultivation is gaining popularity due to low production costs and comparatively high returns. They believe further expansion of off-season watermelon farming could bring significant changes to agriculture and the rural economy of the region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khulna region, has set a target to cultivate off-season watermelons on 1,820 hectares of land in the four districts of the region during the 2026-27 fiscal year, which is 591 hectares higher than the previous year's target. Of the total target, 1,577 hectares are in Khulna, 68 hectares in Bagerhat, 151 hectares in Satkhira, and 24 hectares in Narail. Potential production has been estimated at 54,766 metric tonnes, including 46,515 tonnes in Khulna, 2,120 tonnes in Bagerhat, 5,182 tonnes in Satkhira, and 734 tonnes in Narail. Based on the current farm-gate price of around Tk 40 per kilogram, the potential market value of the produce has been estimated at Tk 218.20 crore. Of this, Khulna is expected to account for Tk 186.06 crore, Bagerhat Tk 8.48 crore, Satkhira Tk 20.73 crore, and Narail Tk 2.93 crore.
Farmer Shafique Sheikh of Keyakhali village under Sharafpur union in Dumuria upazila said he cultivated off-season watermelons on two bighas of land beside a fish enclosure. 'Production costs were Tk 15,000-20,000 per bigha, while I earned Tk 60,000-70,000 by selling the watermelons,' he said, adding that farmers were receiving various forms of support under a project and agricultural officials were regularly monitoring their activities. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Dumuria Upazila Karuna Mondal said 80-90 farmers were cultivating off-season watermelons on 15 hectares in her block this year. Their production costs were Tk 15,000-20,000 per bigha, against returns of Tk 70,000-80,000.
Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Nazmul Huda said around 5,000-6,000 farmers were cultivating the crop on 315 hectares this year. The farmers' production costs were Tk 20,000-25,000 per bigha, while sales ranged from Tk 55,000 to Tk 80,000, depending on quality. He said more than 1,100 farmers had received seed and fertilizer support. In Batiaghata upazila, around 5,000 farmers are cultivating the crop on 820 hectares, up by 200 hectares from last year, said Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Abu Bakar Siddiq. Farmers spend Tk 20,000-25,000 per bigha and earn Tk 1.20 lakh to Tk 1.50 lakh, he said.
In Debhata upazila of Satkhira, around 300 farmers are cultivating the crop on 37 hectares, while in Kalia upazila of Narail, farmers are growing it on 15 hectares. DAE Khulna Deputy Director Md Nazrul Islam told BSS that the district had achieved cultivation on 1,577 hectares against a target of 1,015 hectares, recording a 155 percent achievement. Contacted, DAE Khulna Region Additional Director Agriculturist Md Rafiqul Islam said 1,820 hectares were under off-season watermelon cultivation in the region this year, around 600 hectares more than last year. 'Low production costs and high returns are encouraging farmers to adopt this cultivation,' he said. He expressed hope that locally produced off-season watermelons would help meet nutritional needs while contributing to the regional and national economies through marketing.