Sylhet farmers see success in Shamam melon farming

Shamam melon cultivation is becoming popular in Sylhet’s Dakshin Surma upazila as a profitable business venture.

Shamam, also known as cantaloupe or rockmelon is commonly grown in desert areas of North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. This variety of melon has a tan rind with netlike ridges and sweet fragrant orange flesh.

The fruit is recently gaining popularity in the country and many have begun commercially cultivating it. Farmers of Dakshin Surma upazila expect the business to be profitable as the fruit is in demand all across the country.

Former expat Habban Miah and banker Zahir Ali of the upazila’s Jalalpur union began commercially cultivating in the area. They are cultivating the fruit on 100 decimals of land experimentally.

Zahir Ali said they collected the seeds from Saudi Arabia through an agency and planted them on 100 decimals of land about two months ago.

“The fruits started growing within a month and a half from the plantation. Within another month and a half they will be ripe and ready for harvest,” he said.

He has cultivated two varieties of shamam fruit and said that both are sweet and delicious to taste.

“Wholesalers come and buy truckloads of the fruit every year and export them to other cities including Dhaka. The plants bear fruit in every season except for winter and their demand increases during the month of Ramadan,” he added.

On the topic of the cultivation process, Zahir said he used organic fertiliser and tended the plants with care. He expects a good harvest this season.

Dakshin Surma upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Shahida Sultan said, “Shamam melons are not only tasty to eat but also have many nutritional benefits. It is not commonly cultivated in our country but as the demand is gradually growing, many farmers have begun cultivating shamam.”

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Kazi Mujibur Rahman said commercial cultivation of Shamam began in many areas of Sylhet.

“The fruit is easy to cultivate as the chances of infestation are low and the yield is good. We hope the farmers will benefit from cultivating this fruit,” he said, adding that DAE will provide support and assistance if needed.