Gandaki. Pokhara: The Integrated Enemy Life Management (UPM) Farmers’ School has become effective in watermelon cultivation, which was started in Kundahar to motivate the farmers of Pokhara-13 and 14 with the support of Pokhara Metropolitan City.
Joint Secretary of Surya Chandra Farmers Group, Milan Adhikari, said that due to the direct monitoring and on-site training of agricultural technicians to help from seeds to marketing of products, they have got an opportunity to learn a lot about watermelon cultivation through the school.
The farmers have collectively cultivated watermelon on 14 ropanis of land in groups and individually cultivated watermelon in different places. Stating that this year’s melon cultivation has enthused the farmers and increased the possibilities of cultivation, he expressed the belief that many farmers here would cultivate watermelon in the coming year.
According to Uma Pun, an agricultural technician at the Metropolis, a total of 17 weeks of course on watermelon cultivation is being carried out with the farmers here every Sunday.
Of the watermelons grown at IPM Krishak Pathshala, around 5,500 kg of watermelons have already been taken for sale in the market, said Bishwaraj Sapkota, chairman of the group.
Manhar Kadariya, chief of the Metropolitan City’s Agriculture Development Section, said that watermelon cultivation in Pokhara, which was done only as a normal trial in the past, has been expanded to 200 ropanis of land this year.
The metropolitan city has helped the farmers in seed and mulching. Stating that the attraction towards this cultivation is increasing in ward no. 13, 23, 30, 32 and 33 of the metropolis, he shared that around 400 tonnes (equivalent to 20 million worth) of watermelon has been produced in Pokhara this year.
He said that the metropolitan city has prepared stickers for the branding and marketing of local Saraswati variety of watermelon. Stating that watermelon cultivation has been proved as an alternative in Pokhara, he said it would also contribute significantly to increase employment.
Stating that the IPM has also tested the sweet honey watermelon along with the Saraswati variety, Chief Kadariya said that the saraswati variety of watermelon is suitable in Pokhara and surrounding areas. He says that it is delicious compared to other castes.
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