Rockmelon farming now in Sylhet

Sylhet Bureau :
Rockmelon, a desert fruit, is now being cultivated in Sylhet. Two farmers from Sylhet districts have successfully cultivated the desert fruit in their fields. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the fruit is grey in colour and the inside is yellow. The fruit is shaped like a watermelon. It is very sweet, delicious, and fragrant to eat. Many expatriates are being benefited by cultivating rockmelon by using their experience after returning to the country. This fruit is also known as Shammam or sweet melon. Johir Ali and Habban Miah, from Raykhail village in Dakshin Surma upazila of Sylhet district, have successfully cultivated the desert fruit rockmelon.
Visiting his land, it was seen that farmer Johir had planted saplings inside the mulching seat.
For the first time, they have succeeded in experimental farming. The fruit has started to ripen. Following the successful cultivation of the desert fruit, Johir is now planning to go for its commercial production.
Farmer Johir Ali said he tried to plant rockmelon on the advice of the local agriculture department. He planted rockmelon seeds on 100 decimals of land in June this year. The trees bear fruits a month after planting. Dakshin Surma Upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer, Shahida Sultana said, “Rockmelon is a popular fruit in parts of the Middle East 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 Sylhet, success has been seen in cultivating this desert fruit for the first time.”
This popular fruit from the Middle Eastern countries also has the opportunity to be exported. Rockmelon cultivation is expected to spread widely in the region next season, she added.
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.
Kazi Muzibur Rahman, Deputy Director of DAE, Sylhet region, said that it is a fruit of the desert country. There the fruit is known as Shammam. Some people also call the fruit Rockmelon or Sweetmelon. Shammam contains a lot of beta carotene. It also contains Vitamin C, Potassium, Folic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.
He further said that Rockmelon has been cultivated for the first time in Sylhet. The soil and climate of Cumilla are quite suitable for its cultivation.”