Ugyen Dorji

A group of farmers from Dechheling Gewog, Pemagatshel, have started growing watermelon for the first time on a commercial scale.

The group consist of five people are growing watermelon on about 1-acre land at Telung. The promise is showing already.

One of the members of the group, Thinley Tempa, said watermelon cultivation started in March. He said that when the project was first tried, production was amazing.

The group planted 600 saplings. Farmer said that they were expecting produce harvest worth about three Bolero truck.

Kencho Zangmo, a member of the group, said that the group was worried about the market. The plan is to increase the production if the sell increases.

“I am happy looking at the yield,” Kencho Zangmo said.

Farmers said that Agriculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) provided technical and other supports. The group is exploring the market in Pemagatsel, Mongar, and Nganglam.

Dechheling Gewog’s agriculture extension officer, Tempa Chorten, said that he had the job to monitor regularly.

Pemagatshel dzongkhag agriculture officer, Tashi Phuntsho said that watermelon plantation is one of the collaboration activities of ARDC, Wengkhar and Pemagatshel.

The activities are being taken up in Dungmaed, Yurung, and Chimong gewogs.

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