File picture of watermelon farm in Subarnapur district

Sonepur, April 28: Summer is boom time for watermelon farmers in Sonepur. Farmers of this district have turned at least 2,000 acre of barren land into major cultivation zones of watermelon, a fruit that has great demand in summer.

More than 100 farmers in Sonepur have taken to cultivating watermelons over this stretch covering both banks of Hariharjore river.

The stretch, which runs about 15km, covers around 15 villages including Baghbar, Hilung, Mursundi, Nuagarh, Manikpur and Ranipur.Kishan Dehuri, a farmer of Baghbar village, who was among the first to cultivate watermelons in the area, said the vast stretch was barren as no one grew anything there due to the sandy soil.

“I knew that such soil was highly conducive for cultivation of watermelons. About seven years ago, I, along with a fellow farmer, began cultivating watermelons. Not only did the fruit grow well, but its demand was very high. Our success prompted others to join us in the cultivation of the summer fruit. Now, some 100 farmers are cultivating the fruit. We don’t have to go to the market to sell our produces. Traders come to our fields from Raipur, Ranchi and Calcutta with trucks to purchase from us,” Dehuri said.

He added that the price of watermelons had gone down a bit this year due to the unusual weather condition.

“We are selling at the rate of Rs 250 per quintal against the normal rate of Rs 400 a quintal. The price has gone down as demand of the fruit has not been as great as previous years due to the unusual weather. The summer has not been that harsh this year,” he said. Damodar Hota of Krushnapali village said in the long run, there was the need for value addition.

“The government should take initiatives to add value to the fruit by setting up cold storages for preservation and food-processing units. Then, juice, jams and other food products made from watermelons could be prepared,” Hota said.

He added that it was unfortunate that there was no provision of insurance coverage for watermelon farmers.

“While all other farmers get insurance coverage, it is not applicable for watermelon farmers. The government should take proactive steps to address this problem,” Hota said.

The agriculture department of the district through Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), a centrally sponsored programme, has helped the farmers with agricultural equipment.

They have been provided with water-pumps and medicine-sprayers at 50 per cent subsidy. Sonepur horticulturist Lokanath Jena said his department applauds the success of the farmers.

“As far as their demand about insurance benefits for watermelon farmers, we can’t do anything here. It is a policy that is being decided at the state level. We will, however, convey their concerns to the proper authority. The farmers have set an example and we will do our best to help them,” Jena said.