BALANGIR: WATERMELON farming has virtually rolled back migration in Balangir district. The acres of watermelon fields in different areas speak volumes about the success of watermelon farmers.
The crop has revived the hopes for better life among farmers and farm labourers, most of whom used to migrate to Andhra Pradesh to work in brick kilns during the period when they are rendered jobless, particularly after harvest of paddy crop. In order to avert migration, the villagers decided to switch over to watermelon cultivation soon after the paddy season was over in November. Once the crop is ripe, the farmers harvest it between March and June.
In this industrially backward district, watermelon is grown abundantly in Patnagarh, Belpara, Loisingha and Agalpur. About 300 families of nine villages in drought-prone Belpada block opted for watermelon cultivation instead of migrating to other States for work. Of those villages, Hatkat, Khalkhali, Phatamunda, Raikhal and Kichichar grow the summer fruit in abundance.
The fruit is now priced at Rs 2,000 per quintal in the market against Rs 300 a year back. This has brought cheers among the farmer community but many rue that due to lack of market linkage, they are not getting the right price for the produce. The farmers said they are forced to depend on middlemen for disposing of the product.
Sources said when the fruit was priced at Rs 1,000 a quintal during the beginning of this season, farmers sold their produce to middlemen at Rs 300 to Rs 500 per quintal. While the middlemen are pocketing lion’s share of profit, farmers repent their hasty action.
While it is being sold at Rs 10 per kg in the open market, traders procure it at less than half the price from the farmers at Rs four per kg.
Cheru Rout, a farmer of Kalchikachar in Belpada block said, “I cultivated watermelon in one acre of land.
Last year, I earned more than Rs 60,000. But, this year as I had taken loan for purchasing seeds, I was forced to sell the produce early to middlemen fearing that fruit would get damaged due to lack of storage facility.”
Since watermelon is perishable and there is no cold storage, farmers are forced to sell it to traders at whatever price they offer. If the sale is regulated by the administration and cold storage facilities are provided, farmers can benefit, said a local Jatin Patra.
DDA Manoranjan Mallick said the department is providing technical support as and when required.