, Sept. 19 -- Farmers in Satkhira are increasingly turning to off-season watermelon cultivation, drawn by bumper yields and profits of up to Tk 1.5-2 lakh per bigha.

The short-duration crop which can be harvested within about three months is proving increasingly attractive to farmers in the southwestern district, where salinity has long posed a challenge to agriculture.

Farmers say relatively low production costs and good market prices are encouraging more people to take up watermelon cultivation.

Jamal Uddin Sardar, a farmer from Gariyadanga village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, has cultivated more than a bigha of off-season watermelon and is expecting a bumper harvest.

He said he has spent around Tk 60,000-70,000 on cultivation and exp...