Watermelon, muskmelon cultivated more this cold season in ChaungU

November 25

 

WATERMELON and muskmelon are more cultivated in this cold season than monsoon in ChaungU township, Sagaing region.

 

“According to the news reports, Muse border post has already reopened. There is also less yield of watermelon because it has just been cultivated. The watermelon can be started conveying them after 20 days. For the muskmelon, it hasn’t been sent yet,” said Ko Win Min Oo, a local grower from Minti village, ChaungU Township.

 

About 1,400 plants of watermelon were cultivated per acre while around 7,000 or 8,000 plants of muskmelon were planted per acre. Each plant of watermelon yields about two or three fruits. They were packed with the paper box and sent to the markets in a tonne.

 

“The watermelon and muskmelon are selling at the prevailing market price. The price of the fruit is not quite good this time, but it will get a better price later. The fruits are usually offered high prices in January and February. But the fruit price can get at an affordable price in March and April because there is a lot of trucks loaded with watermelon and muskmelon on the road and the truck were delayed due to the traffic. That’s the reason the fruits are rotten and the price has dropped significantly,” said U Win Min Oo.

 

“Yearly, around 25 acres of melons are cultivated. This year, we have grown eight acres of muskmelon and five acres of watermelon. The cultivation of muskmelon is only 20 days old while watermelon has been grown for more than one month. After two and half months, it can be sent directly to Muse,” he added.

 

Myanmar’s watermelon market relies only on China. If China highly demands fruit, the price will go up. Although there is a high demand for fruits, they will be sold well only if the purchasing system is convenient. Now, the ongoing system takes at least 20 days to reach Wamding.

 

On account of COVID-19 impact on crossing posts, China imposed the restrictions that the trucks, entering China must change the Myanmar drivers with those living on China side. Earlier, about 300 trucks were entering China via the prescribed border crossing a day. After the introduction of the driver changing system, only a few trucks are daily crossing the China border,” said a local grower. — Lu Lay /GNLM