(BSS) - After achieving success in cultivating maize and almonds, a young farmer of Bhuiyanpur upazila in Tangail has now created a new example by successfully cultivating watermelon in the char areas along the Jamuna River.

Suman Mia, 28, a degree student of Bhuiyanpur Government Ibrahim Khan College, has successfully cultivated yellow watermelon on five bighas of char land in Faldapara river erosion area of Gabsara. His initiative has brought fresh hope to local farmers who once considered these sandy lands unsuitable for anything other than risky crops like tobacco.

Traditionally, farmers in the char areas of Bhuiyanpur depended mainly on almonds, maize or tobacco due to frequent river erosion and uncertainty in cultivation.

Suman Mia decided to experiment with watermelon cultivation after learning techniques from YouTube.

“I was fascinated after watching watermelon cultivation videos online. Inspired, I decided to try it myself,” Suman Mia told BSS. “I managed five bighas of unused land and planted Tripti, Madhumala and Pakija varieties. Altogether, I have about 5,000 watermelon plants.”

According to Suman, Tripti and Madhumala varieties are yellow on the outside, while Pakija is green-skinned but red inside. The fruits are sweet, juicy and weigh around 5–7 kilograms each. He invested nearly Taka 6 lakh and expects to earn around Taka 5 lakh in profit from this single harvest.

Watermelon is a winter crop requiring only three months to mature. “The fruits have already developed well and harvesting will begin within a week,” he said, adding that the produce is poison-free and ready for market.

Suman’s success has attracted widespread attention. People from nearby villages are visiting his fields, and many farmers have expressed interest in adopting watermelon cultivation in the coming seasons. At least 10 farmers who previously grew tobacco in the char areas have already shown willingness to switch to watermelon cultivation next year.

According to the District Agricultural Extension Department, farmers in Tangail are cultivating three varieties of watermelon on about four hectares of char land this year across Bhuiyanpur, Nagarpur, Kalihati and Sadar upazilas. Interest in off-season watermelon cultivation is increasing due to higher market prices and lower production costs.

Bhuiyanpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Mokhlesur Rahman said that Golden Crown, a relatively new off-season watermelon variety, is gaining popularity. “Though yellow on the outside, it is red inside, nutritious and delicious. It yields well and fetches good prices in the market,” he said.

He added that the Agriculture Office is providing monitoring and advisory support to encourage farmers to expand cultivation of this profitable crop. “With proper training and government incentives, watermelon cultivation in char areas can significantly improve farmers’ livelihoods and help meet national demand,” he said.

Local farmers believe that Suman Mia’s success has opened a new door for sustainable agriculture in the Jamuna char regions, transforming once-risky lands into promising sources of income.