Watermelon farming, a profitable business
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 15 2013 : With the change in climatic condition of the State, watermelon which is abundantly grown and more suitable to hot and humid regions, has become a growing demand of the people in Manipur today and as such watermelon farming has become a profitable business.

Nandeibam Ibungo of Nandeibam Leikai under Imphal East district is one farmer who has made a living through plantation of water melon in his farm.

Ibungo has a farm covering an area of over one and a half sangam where he grows paddy in paddy season and shifts to plantation of watermelon coupled with potato soon after paddy season.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Nandeibam Ibungo said, "We don't have to worry over not getting government jobs as it is not the only means for livelihood.

If one is willing to be self employed, one can earn a whole lot of money through plantation of watermelon alone." He further informed that from the business of watermelon farming, he has been able to look after his family in the best possible way one could maintain.

Last year he was able to earn a profit of around Rs 4 lakh through watermelon plantation.

Ibungo not only plants watermelon but also carried out mixed farming with potato in his farm.

He informed that with a bag of potato seeds he could produce around 11 bags of potatoes.

Ibungo had bagged the first prize in the crop competition held in 1999 by the Agriculture Department during the time of RK Ranbir as the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Narrating how he took up the profession, Ibungo said that after he finished harvesting rice from his paddy field, he was thinking of some means to get himself occupied by planting some other crops in the field.

One day he just spread of some seeds of watermelon in his field and to his surprise he found a watermelon ripening in his field after some months.

It was in 1995 that he approached the concerned authorities which could help him in plantation of watermelon on large scale.

After getting the required information, he managed to get watermelon seeds from Delhi and planted them in his one and half sangam of field.

Ibungo explained that plantation of watermelon normally starts in the last week of February and it is ready for sale by the second week of May.

"Though profitable, the business of planting watermelon requires some labour.

Plantation of watermelon is most suitable when there is little rainfall", he added.

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