Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Sept 7, 2026 (BSS) - Mitali Mondal, 40, a farmer of Chhotoband village under Sahas Union of Dumuria upazila in Khulna, has achieved notable financial success by cultivating high-value foreign varieties of colourful watermelon on just 10 decimals of land.

She has already earned Tk 35,000 by selling the colourful watermelons recently and expects to earn another Tk 10,000 from the remaining fruits.

Talking to BSS, Mitali said her total production cost, including seeds, land preparation, fertilisers, pesticides and other care, was around Tk 6,500. She is selling the watermelons at around Tk 70 per kilogramme, nearly twice the price of conventional watermelons.

“I was initially worried about whether the market would accept the new variety. But after harvesting, I found strong demand. The watermelon is attractive in appearance and also sweet and tasty,” she said.

Mitali said she mainly cultivated the ‘Tripti’ variety, which comes in two distinct forms -- one with a golden-yellow exterior and red flesh, and another that is yellow both outside and inside.

“I earn over Tk 3 lakh annually by cultivating watermelons, especially colourful varieties, along with other crops,” she added.

Her husband, Mrityunjay Mondal, said his wife worked hard to maintain the field every day.

“Such a good return from such a small investment within a short time is something we have never experienced before,” he said, adding that many local farmers were visiting their field and seeking advice on cultivating the variety next season.

Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Nazmul Huda said colourful watermelon is a high-value crop that can be marketed during the off-season, allowing farmers to earn higher prices.

The agriculture office has provided Mitali with technical advice and plans to bring more farmers under training on the cultivation of the crop, he said.

Talking to BSS, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khulna, Md Nazrul Islam said the bumper yield demonstrated that the soil of Khulna was suitable for colourful watermelon cultivation.

He said expansion of such high-value fruit and vegetable cultivation could increase farmers’ incomes while strengthening women’s participation and empowerment through the rural economy.

Dumuria UNO Sabita Sarkar described Mitali’s success as inspiring and said the administration would provide necessary incentives and marketing support to enterprising women farmers.

Inspired by Mitali’s success, many farmers in Chhotoband and elsewhere in Dumuria are now showing interest in cultivating colourful watermelon next season.