Land that once grew a single rice crop a year and lay fallow the rest of the time now carries rows of yellow watermelon. Among the green vines spread across the soil, brightly coloured yellow fruit peeps through. Local people and visitors from far and wide crowd in every day to see this unusual watermelon garden. Some take photographs, some buy fruit for their families. Behind the change is Khorshed Alam, a young entrepreneur from Juri upazila.
About five years ago, watching a video on YouTube about growing yellow watermelon, it occurred to him to try it once. That attempt began on just six decimals of land. After success in the trial planting, he has not had to look back. He now grows several varieties of yellow watermelon on about three bighas. This season he expects to sell 8 to 9 lakh taka worth of fruit, with a likely profit of about five lakh taka after costs.
Khorshed Alam, of Domabari village in Goalbari union of Juri upazila, Moulvibazar, works as an environmental and news worker. He had next to no formal experience in agriculture. His interest began simply from watching videos on YouTube. In 2022 he planted yellow watermelon experimentally on six decimals of land to meet his family’s needs. With a good yield and demand in the market, that hobby planting later turned into a commercial venture.
Khorshed Alam said: “Seeing yellow watermelon farming on YouTube gave me the urge. I thought I would try it once. I sowed seed on six decimals of land. After the yield turned out well, I saw that demand for it was considerable too. From then on I thought about growing it commercially.”
That small trial has now taken the shape of a large venture. This season Khorshed has grown the Lanfai, Suryadim, Sungold, Leona, Robi, Sammam Marlin and honeydew melon varieties on about three bighas of his own land. Among them, the Lanfai variety of yellow watermelon has caught visitors’ attention most.
On November 18 last year he began growing the crop commercially on 33 decimals of land in the Domabari Kachurgul block, using modern technology, with the help of the Sylhet region agricultural development project and the Department of Agricultural Extension in Juri.
Khorshed’s watermelon garden is now not only a source of income but has become something of an attraction for local people. With photographs and videos of the garden spreading on social media, the number of visitors is growing every day.
Saidul Islam, a visitor who came to see the garden, said: “I could not resist after seeing pictures of the garden on social media. Khorshed taking on something like this at a young age is genuinely startling.”
For many who come to the garden, this is the first time they have seen or tasted yellow watermelon. Some only walk round the garden, some take photographs, and some buy a watermelon they like and take it away. Several buyers are taking between four and 15 watermelons at a time.
Khorshed said yellow watermelon is a winter-season crop and the yield comes within about three months of planting. This season his costs have come to about three lakh taka. If the yield and market price hold up, he hopes to sell eight to nine lakh taka worth of watermelon. Last season’s experience has made him more hopeful still: he grew watermelon at a cost of about three lakh taka and sold about eight lakh taka worth of fruit, meaning an income of about five lakh taka after costs from a three-month crop. Khorshed said: “Juri’s climate is very well suited to growing yellow watermelon. The yield comes in just three months. I think there is scope for growing it on a larger scale in this area.”
Alongside his own success, Khorshed is also giving importance to bringing the area’s fallow land under cultivation. In his account, thousands of bighas of land in Juri still lie fallow for a large part of the year for various reasons. If short-duration and profitable crops could be grown on this land, agricultural production would increase and employment could be created as well.
He said: “A lot of land lies fallow in Juri. Educated unemployed young men could take on ventures like this if they wanted. If you start with a little courage, it is possible to become self-reliant from agriculture.”
Speaking of his hopes, Khorshed said: “Next year I will increase the area under cultivation. Alongside that I want to add other new crops. My aim is to build Juri up as an agriculturally rich area.”
Juri upazila agriculture officer Mahmudul Alam said: “Growing the Lanfai variety of yellow watermelon has already created a considerable stir in Juri upazila. Khorshed’s venture has already created interest among farmers in the surrounding area. Many are becoming interested in growing yellow watermelon after seeing his garden. With photographs and videos of the garden spreading on social media, it is becoming known quickly. Hundreds of farmers and visitors come to see the garden every day.”
The agriculture officer added: “The Lanfai variety of yellow watermelon is a high-value hybrid. The method of production is much like that of local watermelon. It contains antioxidants and vitamins A and C, and the fruit is quite sweet. Juri’s soil and climate are suited to growing this variety.”
Describing the agriculture department’s training and field-level help as one of the supports for the venture, Mahmudul Alam said: “If anyone is interested, the agriculture office will provide the necessary advice, training and assistance.”