Untimely rains across the district in quick succession in February followed by another spell last Sunday has left the watermelon cultivators devastated. The rain has defaced the fruit making it difficult for the cultivators to sell it.
Reports said, watermelon is grown over 580 hectares of land – 400 hectares in Tileibani, 160 hectares in Barkote and 20 hectares Reamal block. But the fruit was grown over 700 hectares of land in 2013.
With weather playing truant, the crop has been worst affected in lands where water remained stagnant and did not drain out. Since the weather of the district is best suited for watermelon, the district is one of the major producers of the fruit, also contributing to exports.
Narayan Samal (40) of Asananali village said the rain hit when the fruit was growing and gaining in size. He said he had procured loan from Co-operative Society, but the damage has proved costly for farmers like him. Besides damaging the fruit, the rain also has triggered pest attack, he added. Similar words of despair were also echoed by other farmers who had grown watermelon since most of them had availed loan.
Assistant Director, Horticulture, G B Satpathy agreed that watermelon crop has been severely damaged by the rain. The staff have been directed to apprise the farmers on the steps to be taken to prevent pest attack and save their crop, he said, adding, rains will not only reflect on the colour of the fruit but have a bearing on its sweetness as well.
Source: New Indian Express