Photo: BSS

DINAJPUR, Sept 4, 2026 (BSS) - A young entrepreneur has achieved success in watermelon cultivation alongside his studies in Bochaganj upazila of the district.

During a recent visit to Chandipur village in Bochaganj upazila, young entrepreneur Minhaj Uddin shared his experience of cultivating improved varieties of watermelon using modern farming techniques.

Minhaj, 22, son of Golam Mostofa of Chandipur village under Rangaon union, started watermelon farming with just two packets of seeds as a hobby after completing his Alim examination. 

Encouraged by a good harvest in his first attempt, he became increasingly interested in agriculture and later contacted the Bochaganj Upazila Agriculture Office for technical advice.

With guidance from agricultural officials, Minhaj expanded his cultivation this year to around 50 decimals of leased land, where he is growing two varieties of watermelon using the mulching method and trellis system.

One of the varieties, locally known as 'Surjo Dim', is a yellow-coloured watermelon for which he collected seeds from outside the area and cultivated it on his own initiative. The other, 'Marcello', is a black watermelon variety cultivated under a government demonstration programme of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Minhaj said he has spent around Taka 80,000, including the cost of leasing the land, for the cultivation. He has already started selling the watermelons at Taka 70-80 per kilogramme.

Although the crop was expected to be harvested within 70-80 days, the harvesting process is now almost complete. If the yield and market prices remain favourable, Minhaj expects to sell watermelons worth around Taka 300,000.

"I started watermelon cultivation with two packets of seeds as a hobby. After getting a good yield in the first season, I realised that it was possible to commercially cultivate modern agricultural crops alongside my studies," Minhaj said.

"I am studying at a madrasah and doing agricultural work alongside my education. Those who have completed their studies but are unemployed can contact the agriculture office and become entrepreneurs like me. There are ample opportunities to become self-reliant by engaging in modern agriculture," he added.

Minhaj passed his Dakhil examination from Chandipur Dakhil Madrasah in 2023 and his Alim examination from Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah in Dhaka in 2025. He is currently studying in the Fazil (Honours) programme at the same institution.

Bochaganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Nayan Kumar Saha said Minhaj was provided with necessary seeds, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs by the DAE's Bochaganj office under a single-fruit-garden demonstration programme as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Development Project in the Dinajpur region during the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Mahbub Alam has been providing Minhaj with regular technical assistance and advice on trellis-based watermelon cultivation, he said.

Nayan Kumar described Minhaj's initiative as a commendable example in modern agriculture.
"As a student, he has become involved in modern watermelon cultivation alongside his studies. He has cultivated one variety on his own initiative and another under the agriculture department's demonstration programme and advice," he said.

He said educated and unemployed youths could take up agriculture not only as a profession but also as a means of becoming entrepreneurs.

"If modern technologies and advice from the agriculture department are properly utilised, there is significant potential for young people in agriculture," he added.

According to the Bochaganj Agriculture Office, a government single-fruit-garden demonstration is being implemented through the Rangaon Sustainable Agriculture Development Farmers' Group under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Project in the Dinajpur region for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The Marcello variety of black watermelon has been cultivated under the programme this year.

Deputy Director of the Dinajpur District Department of Agricultural Extension Md Afzal Hossain said he recently visited Minhaj's watermelon field at Chandipur and expressed satisfaction over his success.

He said educated unemployed young people now have ample opportunities to become agricultural entrepreneurs, adding that the agriculture department is providing various forms of government support to agricultural entrepreneurs.

Minhaj's initiative alongside his studies is not only encouraging young people to take an interest in agriculture but also demonstrating a new pathway toward entrepreneurship and self-reliance through modern farming technologies.