Abu Dhabi
Omani farmer Hamad bin Ali Al Hinai from Wadi Qurayyat in Bahla State, Al Dakhiliya Governorate, boasts producing a whopping 200 tons of watermelon this season, with the quality produce sold out in a matter of days, despite the coronavirus crisis.
His start was three years ago, with the cultivation of three acres to get to know the to crop and the agricultural processes, from setting the seed to harvest.
In the second year, five acres were cultivated, while this season he grew 10 acres of Omani watermelon.
Watermelons typically need 90 days to grow, ripen and be ready for harvest. It has a sweet, juicy, refreshing flesh of reddish colour, containing black pips.
In the coming season, Al Hinai aspires to cultivate 20 acres of Omani watermelon and work to increase the return on production with high quality and competition with what is offered in the local market.
He explained that the produce was sold out to wholesale merchants and individuals inside the farm through social media.
The price ranges per ton of watermelon during the summer season between 140-150 riyals ($365- $390). According to statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the cultivated area of watermelon crop reached 4,162 acres, and the total production reached 56,616 tons last year, compared to 56,047 tons with an area estimated at 4,120 acres in 2018.
