Ganderbal, Aug 15 (KNO): Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, renowned for its special grape varieties, has embarked on watermelon cultivation as well.
The horticulture and agriculture sectors serve as the primary economic drivers for Jammu and Kashmir, contributing approximately 1000 crore rupees in annual revenue.
Manzoor Ahmad, a farmer in the Batwina village of Ganderbal, has successfully cultivated watermelons during the off-season on his land.
Manzoor told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he has been engaged in it for several years and has received additional guidance on producing top-quality watermelons.
He, however, said that if the horticulture department offers him further information and assistance on watermelon cultivation, it could potentially boost farmers’ income.
Having been involved in this business directly and indirectly for years, our efforts are dedicated to producing the finest quality Zebra-shaped watermelons, the farmer said.
Manzoor said Batwina village's watermelons are ripe and available within the Ganderbal district.
Another farmer said that watermelon typically thrives in hot and humid locations such as Gujarat, Bangalore and Maharashtra. However, certain areas in Kashmir, comparatively colder than India's plains, have also initiated the cultivation.
Melons are cherished fruits for both growing and consuming when the growing season arrives. He emphasized that melons flourish in warm temperatures and well-drained soil.
China stands as the world's top watermelon producer, with other significant contributors including Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan. In India, watermelon is cultivated in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and now Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have also joined in—(KNO)