Rockmelon, a desert fruit, is now being cultivated in Bangladesh. Three farmers from Cumilla and Khulna districts have successfully cultivated the desert fruit in their fields.
Elias Mollah and Afzal Mollah, two brothers from Panchpota village in Dumuria upazila of Khulna district, have successfully cultivated the desert fruit rockmelon.
For the first time, they have succeeded in experimental farming on the banks of the fish enclosure. The fruit has started to ripen. Following the successful cultivation of the desert fruit, Elias is now planning to go for its commercial production.
Farmer Afzal Mollah said he tried to plant rockmelon on the advice of the local agriculture department. To test whether it can be grown on the bank of the fish enclosure, he planted rockmelon seeds on 10 decimals of land in June this year. The trees bear fruits a month after planting.
Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer, Mosaddek Hossain said, "Rockmelon is a popular fruit in parts of the Middle Eastern countries. The people of the Arab region know it as Sammam. The fruit is being cultivated on plain lands in several areas in Bangladesh. However, in saline soils like Khulna, success has been seen in cultivating this desert fruit for the first time.''
Farmers in the areas have become interested in rockmelon cultivation. Some are also taking suggestions for producing this new variety of juicy fruit in the future.
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