Pokhara Metropolitan City Cultivates Watermelons on 500 Ropanis, Organizes Watermelon Fair

Pokhara. This year, watermelon has been cultivated on five hundred ropanis of land in Pokhara Metropolitan City. The metropolitan city has been promoting programs including subsidies to attract farmers towards watermelon cultivation, which has led to increased interest in this sector. According to Manahar Kadariya, head of the Agricultural Development Branch of the Metropolitan City, watermelon cultivation is taking place in wards 13, 14, 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30, 32, and 33 of the Metropolitan City.

According to him, the Metropolitan City had distributed seeds and mulching plastic to the farmers at a 50 percent subsidy this year. Although the business of watermelon cultivation in the Metropolitan City was estimated to be around Rs 50 million this year, hail and continuous rain have had some impact, he said.

"To promote local production, a minimum support price for watermelon has been set, and stickers are being provided for branding," he said. To promote agricultural tourism and local production, the Pokhara Watermelon Fair will be held on Jestha 5, 2083, to promote watermelon cultivation in Pokhara and increase farmers' interest in it.

The watermelon fair is being organized by the Agricultural Development Branch of Pokhara Metropolitan City and Ward No. 13 Office, and managed by the Ward Level Agricultural Network Pokhara 13. Kadariya informed that farmers who grow the largest watermelon, grow on the largest area, and grow the sweetest watermelon will be honored during the fair. According to him, discussions on watermelon-related topics, success stories, etc., will be held during the fair.