Omani farmer grows more than 200 tonnes of watermelon in 10 acres

Bahla: A farmer from the town of Wadi Quriyat in the Wilayat of Bahla, Governorate of A'Dakhiliyah, named Hamad bin Ali Al Hinai, planted this season 10 acres that gave him 200 tonnes of high quality watermelon.
Hamad Al Hinai said in an interview with Oman News Agency (ONA), "I started the project three years ago. The idea came to me to diversify the sources of income as I invest in many farms in the village of Wadi Quriyat in the Wilayat of Bahla. Through communication with the Agricultural Development Department in Wadi Quriyat and specialists who recommended the diversification and multiplication of crops and with the aim of increasing food security, which has become a preoccupation for all countries to achieve self-sufficiency, the idea of planting Omani watermelon originated."
He pointed out, "I started in 2016 by planting three acres in the first year as a step to know about the crop and learn about all agricultural operations starting from setting the seed to harvesting the crop. In the second year, I planted five acres and implemented the agricultural cycle programme. In the third season, 10 acres were planted along with the implementation of the integrated management program in controlling agricultural pests by using several methods to reduce the use of pesticides. The production in that year jumped to more than 200 tonnes."
In the coming season, he plans to plant 20 acres of Omani watermelon, looking to increase the income by having high quality production to compete in the local market.
He added, "The marketing is done through selling to wholesale merchants and individuals inside the farm through the use of various social media that contributed to the marketing and selling of the whole quantity despite some concerns at the beginning due to the coronavirus pandemic and the inability to market the product and sell it in the domestic markets."
Al Hinai urged farmers to take care of their farms and cultivate various agricultural crops that contribute to achieving food security for the country and not leave it to expatriate labourers, as the land gives whoever gives it.
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Hinai, Director of the Agricultural Development Department in Wadi Quriyat said, "The department is working hard to overcome all the difficulties facing farmers, and to harness all the available capabilities by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It also conduct field follow-up by specialists in the department and the ministry and communication with agricultural research centres and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), with the aim of achieving production at the lowest cost and high quality, to achieve food security and to work to encourage and train national labour."
Many farmers in various governorates of the Sultanate are interested in watermelon cultivation, as this crop represents a profitable project and generates good income for them. Good production depends on the experience of the farmer and his interest in agriculture.
The price per tonne of watermelon ranges between OMR140-150.
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 4,162) acres were planted with watermelon in for 2019, that produced 56,616 tonnes, compared to 4,120 acres and 56,047 tonnes in 2018.
Summer is one of the best seasons to grow watermelon because the seeding-harvesting period takes 75 days, which becomes 90 days in winter. On the other hand, demand for watermelon increases in summer because of the high temperature.