For so many years, Suleiman Kalundu, a resident of Voo village in Kitui East, struggled with low earnings from his maize and tomato farm due to erratic rainfall.
The area, like other parts of the Eastern region, had experienced long spells of drought, which affected maize yield prompting farmers to turn to alternative crops.
Kalundu opted for watermelons and confesses that it has earned him a big fortune. On his seven-acre piece of land, he makes profits of Sh600, 000 in each of the two seasons per year.
The farmer spends Sh70, 000 each season to produce the fruit, with the money partly used on preparation, water pump fuel, and buying seeds and pesticides.
He sells a kilo of watermelon at between Sh30 and Sh 40, but the prices peak during dry seasons when people buy in large amounts.
“With the income I generate from watermelon production, I’m able to support my family as well as educate my children. I have also bought several pieces of land to expand my venture,” he said.
How you can make Sh. 1,000,000 with watermelons
Given the water scarcity in Kitui, Kalundu relies on pumped water from scoop wells on Thua riverbed, which is adjacent to his farm.
Kalundu begins harvesting 75-100 days after planting. Yield range from 20-30 tonnes per acre depending on variety and crop management practices.
Watermelon Cultivation
Watermelon farming requires extensive soil preparation before planting in order to be profitable and lead to high yields. The fruit requires a lot of sunlight and water and does well in areas that experience hot climates.
Experts say the basic soil preparation should start about 5 months before transplanting watermelon seedlings. One week before planting, farmers should apply a pre-planting fertilizer such as manure or synthetic commercial fertilizer.
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The type of commercial fertilizer applied should match the condition of the soil hence the need for consulting a licensed agronomist.
For the direct seeded, the planting depth should be about 2cm, and between row spacing of 1.5-1.8m, while the intra-row spacing is 30-60cm.
Weeding should be done regularly to keep the field clean and carefully done to avoid injuring the plant. To avoid disease spread, do not prune melons when vines are wet.
According to Oxfarm, If a farmer wants to know whether watermelons are ripe and ready for harvesting, they should tap their tough covering with a finger.
If they produce a dull sound, it means they are ready. Farmers can also check the bottom part that lies on the ground; if it’s yellow, the fruit has ripened.
