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Most of Chandpur's soil is not good for growing watermelons, but residents have been enjoying the fruit ahead of summer - albeit paying high prices - owing to smooth supply in ample quantity from southern districts.
These days have been sunny in Chandpur, while the weather is hot and humid. Even though wage-earners are disappointed with the asking retail price ranging Tk 150-200, its impact on demand is seemingly negligible. Muslims have been especially interested in purchasing the fruit to treat their families after day-long fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Procured by around 30-35 wholesale fruit traders at Tk 100 apiece, some 225,000 watermelons are supplied at Chandpur's Chowdhury Ghat through the Dakatia River in 15 trawlers, according to merchants. The vessels carry the fruits produced on melon fields in remote areas including Bhola's Char Fasson and Patuakhali's Galachipa.
Around 250-300 labourers unload the watermelons at the Ghat's market spaces and the fruits are later sent to local markets in eight upazilas in different vehicles.
The high price has prompted low income people in Chandpur from turning away from the fruit, retailed through rickshawvans in the district, the FE found upon talking to customers.
A female customer said she had bought a couple of big watermelons at Tk 400, while a man said he has bought two medium-sized watermelons at Tk 300. On the other hand, buyers Abul Bashar Patwary and Abdul Hye Akhand said they have bought a few pieces of watermelons at Tk 160 per piece.
Agricultural experts Mobarak Hossain at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Chandpur said farmers are not interested in growing watermelon in Chandpur as the soil is not suitable for the cultivation.
He added that some farmers grow the fruit on a limited scale in the sandy soil of remote char areas in Haimchar Upazila in Chandpur, but the quantity is not mentionable.
He further said a random survey shows that watermelons worth over Tk 22 million is being sold daily at Chandpur's Chowdhury Ghat.
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