CANACONA
A dip in temperature in recent weeks is being blamed for the low yield of watermelons in Canacona, with farmers worried that the production could drop by 25% of the expected production this year.
The expected drop in production will now make it difficult for Goan watermelon cultivators to compete with watermelon imported from other states.
Farmers engaged in watermelon cultivation have complained that the cool nights and chilly mornings have severely affected watermelon cultivations at the flowering stage.
“The watermelon yield will be less than 25% of the expected production this year,” feared Sanjay Komarpant, who has been cultivating watermelons on 3,500 sq mtrs of farming land in Amone-Poinguinim.
“We were very enthusiastic shortly before the flowering stage, but cold weather, dew and chilly mornings since the second fortnight of February have proved disastrous to watermelon cultivation.”
Incidentally, Komarpant and some other farmers had switched over to watermelon cultivation to compete
with rival farmers from other states for a growing market in Goa.
“The weather gods have let us down and our cultivations have been destroyed at the flowering stage. We began cultivation early and were hoping for an early yield so as to get good rates for our local watermelons,” said Komarpant.
Stating that watermelons flood the Goa market from Maharashtra, Karnataka and even as far away as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Komarpant said a farmer could earn about Rs 10 per kilo of watermelon from wholesalers.
“However, given the current climatic conditions, my watermelon cultivation will be far below my normal expectation of 20-22 tonnes. I would be lucky if I manage a production of even 5 tonnes of watermelons,” said Komarpant.
“But this is not my only concern. Most farmers who had also switched to watermelon cultivation amid high expectations of some decent returns will also be a disappointed lot,” rued Komarpant.
