Kerala: Karinchapadi watermelon is much in demand despite the lockdown

MALAPPURAM: Karinchapadi watermelon, Malappuram’s own watermelon brand is a big hit in the Ramadan market, even during lockdown days.
The watermelon was cultivated in around a 10-acre land in Karinchapadi in Kuruva village of the district, by Karinchapadi A Grade vegetable cluster supported by the agriculture department. The cluster is a collective of 22 vegetable and fruit farmers in the region.
Anmol variety of Watermelon, a fresh variety of yellow-fleshed watermelon, is a hot favourite in the market this time, said Ameer Babu, secretary of the cluster.
“Price of this variety of fruit is four times higher than that of normal red-fleshed watermelon available in the market. But there is a high demand for it,” said Babu.
A total of four varieties of watermelon were cultivated in the 10 acre area in Karinchapadi, this time. Lockdown did not affect the sale of the local brand of watermelon as the farmers managed to use farmers' retail outlets (FROs) system which was jointly launched by Horticorp and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Kerala (VFPCK) during the lockdown, for marketing the farm produce. The watermelons are also directly delivered at homes, according to the demand through phone and WhatsApp.
Agriculture officer of Kuruva panchayat Shuhaib Thottiyan said that the scientific farming approach is one of the major reasons for the success of Karinchapadi brand of watermelons. Babu practices Mulching farming system, which is a method of covering the topsoil surface with organic materials like straw, grass, stones, inorganic materials like plastics etc., which helps divert the irrigation water directly to the roots of plants, said the officer.
The cultivation began in February and the harvesting was held before May. The vegetable cluster, also cultivates cucumber, carrot and tomato, with the support of the agricultural department.