Pics: Adithya Aithall

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Apr 22: Watermelon farmers across coastal Karnataka are facing severe losses this season due to unseasonal rains, declining demand, and unfair pricing practices by middlemen.

According to the department of agriculture, watermelon has been cultivated across 225 to 260 acres in regions falling under the jurisdictions of Udupi, Kaup, Brahmavar, Byndoor, Kundapur, and the Vandse-Kota zones.

The first harvest took place in January, followed by a second phase starting from the second week of April. However, as all farmers harvested simultaneously during the first phase, the anticipated profits could not be realised due to market saturation.

Farmers had hoped to fetch better prices during the second harvest, especially with rising temperatures. However, unexpected rainfall and pressure from middlemen have dashed their hopes once again. While the retail price of watermelon in the market remains as high as Rs 20 per kg, middlemen are purchasing the fruit from farmers at a meagre Rs 6–Rs 7 per kg.

At present, farmers are receiving only Rs 11–Rs 13 per kg for red-fleshed watermelons and Rs 14–Rs 16 per kg for white-fleshed ones—barely enough to recover their investment. In January, they had managed to get Rs 15–Rs 16 per kg.

Due to the heavy unseasonal rains, unharvested watermelons are beginning to rot in the fields. If not harvested immediately after rainfall, the fruits develop cracks and become unfit for sale. With no fair price in sight, many farmers have lost interest and are abandoning their crops.

In an attempt to recover some value, a few farmers have taken to selling watermelons directly by the roadside, managing to earn up to Rs 18 per kg. However, this is not a sustainable solution for all, and the overall losses have been substantial.

Farmers are now calling for fair pricing mechanisms and improved market access, warning that without intervention, watermelon cultivation in the region may be pushed to the brink of collapse.