Jhapa. In the 10 months of the current fiscal year 2081/82 BS, watermelon worth Rs 46.13 4 million has been imported from India.
According to Ishwor Kumar Humagain, information officer at mechi customs office, 1,765,090 kg of melon has entered the Nepali market during the period. Melon is popular in the market as a delicious fruit that provides cool in summer. Although the locals have been cultivating melon commercially, the large quantity of melon imported from India has been overshadowing the domestic production.
In the last 10 months, 510,230 kg of melon worth Rs 13.37 million was imported from India. According to customs officials, 230,850 kg worth Rs 6.05 million in the first month of the current fiscal year, 186,140 kg worth Rs 4.898 million in August, 141,450 kg worth Rs 3.729 million in September, 81,240 kg worth Rs 2.137 million in October. In December, 55,780 kg of watermelon worth Rs 1.466 million and 47,260 kg of melon worth Rs 1.242 million was imported from India through Kakarvitta.
Similarly, 85,710 kg of watermelon worth Rs 2.232 million was imported in February, 173,789 kg worth Rs 4.488 million in February, 510,230 kg worth Rs 13.37 million in March and 252,650 kg of watermelon worth Rs 6.586 million in April.
Commercial melon farming has been taking place in Jhapa for the past few years. Leela Khanal, proprietor of Nepali Babu Smart Agriculture Farm at Mechinagar-15, said that nepali products could not compete with the melons imported from India. Khanal has been cultivating melons on 13 bighas of land leased with partners. Last year, the farm produced 350 metric tonnes of melon.
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