Kohinoor Kharbooja turns boon to farmers

Mahabubnagar: The Kohinoor Kharbooja (Kohinoor or Sun Melon), a short-term crop, is bringing good profits to farmers who are cultivating it. One of the farmers, Srinivas Rao, hailing from Polkepad village of Gopalpet mandal in the district, has made a profit of Rs 80,000 per acre. After investing a total of Rs 70,000 on growing the fruit in an acre, he was able to earn Rs 80,000 more. He said the field has to be ploughed thoroughly with the help of a Rotovator to make the soil extremely soft.

Sandy and red soils are useful for cultivating the crop. Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Srinivas Rao said he had planted nearly 7,000 saplings on an acre of land. The saplings available in the nurseries costed him Rs 4 each. “If the young plants were infected, they should be sprayed with Chrolomill and Bavistan,” he informed.

“This crop would generally be ready for harvest in 70 to 75 days. Each plant will yield two fruits,” he said, adding that the fruit is very tasty and good for health. The fruit is also known as Sun Melon in Hyderabad, Kohinoor Melon in Mumbai and New Delhi, and Honey Melon in the US.

Srinivas Rao said, “Earlier, the Kohinoor Kharbooja was exported to other countries and also sold in New Delhi. But there is a drop in the demand for the fruit. It is now being sold in the towns of Nagarkurnool, Vanparthi and Mathabubnagar.” The farmer added that he had hired some people to sell the fruit in the towns and each fruit was being sold for Rs 30. “There is a huge demand for this fruit now and each fruit remains for 30 days without getting spoiled. Farmers can happily grow this fruit without incurring any losses,” he said.

By:Sunkari Nagesh