Watermelon has been planted commercially for the first time in Rupsha of Khulna. The bumper crop has brought smiles on the faces of the farmers. Last year, the farmers were worried as they did not get the expected yield in paddy cultivation. At this time the concerned Upazila Agriculture Department extended a helping hand by advising on watermelon cultivation. According to the farmers, bumper crop of watermelon will be the next season, the farmers will be more interested in watermelon cultivation. The locals claim that there will be a revolution in watermelon cultivation in the area in the future.

Rupsha Upazila Agriculture Office sources said, the farmer's son, the son of the deceased Daulat Ali Sheikh, a resident of the tidal area of ​​Shrifaltala Union of the upazila. Imran Sheikh and his nephew, a resident of the same village. Ibrahim Sheikh's son said. Tito Sheikh did not get the expected yield in paddy cultivation last year. Disappointed, they took advice from the Upazila Agriculture Department. At this time, the Department of Agriculture extended its hand of overall cooperation by advising them to cultivate watermelon. For the first time, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, they started planting sweet dragon (white) and pakija (black) watermelons on eight acres of land. Sex pheromone traps are placed in the field to control flies. The production cost per bigha is twenty thousand rupees. The yield has also been bumper. The average weight of watermelon is about four kg. These watermelons are being sold from the field for fifteen rupees per kg. Farmers Imran Sheikh and Tito Sheikh have already sold more than 500 watermelons. Watermelon seeds are usually sown at the end of December. Watermelon sales start three months after sowing.

Md. Of the tidal village. Iqbal Sheikh said, "Last year, some farmers in the area resorted to watermelon cultivation due to poor paddy yield." He said the yield has also been bumper. As a result, farmers have become more watermelon cultivators in the future. Watermelon grower said.

Imran Sheikh said, ‘Last year, when the yield was not good in paddy cultivation, when I contacted the Upazila Agriculture Office, Fariduzzaman, an agriculturist, gave advice and overall cooperation. He even used to search all the time from the beginning of the field. As soon as he called, he came to our field. He still came to inquire from the Upazila Agriculture Office. And the Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer is always on the lookout. That is why watermelon cultivation has had bumper yields. However, due to the coronavirus situation, the price of watermelon is a little lower. Even then I have sold more than 500 watermelons from the field at 15 rupees per kg. He said, without the overall cooperation of the agriculture office, I could not have come so far by cultivating in any way. He said he wants to plant more watermelons in the future.

Nitish Chandra Bala, Sub assistant agriculture officer of Maishaghuni block of the Upazila, said that for the first time, Imran and Tito, who are interested in watermelon cultivation, have been given all kinds of assistance by the agriculture office. I have even done research almost every day due to being in charge of this block. He said watermelon is a profitable crop. So the agriculture office is constantly monitoring how the yield is good.

Rupsha Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain said, "For the first time, some farmers in the tidal area have grown watermelons and got early yields." Due to their success, the farmers of this region will become more interested in watermelon cultivation in future. He said that many people have already expressed interest in this cultivation.

Upazila agriculture officer agriculturist Md. Fariduzzaman said, ‘Farmers in the Rupsa tidal area have been frustrated by not getting good yields of paddy in the last few years. Watermelon cultivation is advised when they contact the agriculture office. They became interested in it. We wondered if there was a bumper crop of watermelons in other parts of the country. According to him, farmers Imran and Tito started cultivating watermelon on 6 acres of land here. It is the first plantation in Rupsha on a commercial basis. I have given them all the support they need. Along with Nitish Chandra Bala, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer of Maishaghuni Block and Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain, Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer, I personally came to eat and supervised the overall situation. He said, seeing their success, many people interested in watermelon cultivation in this area are contacting us in future.