Bhirkot Municipality has launched watermelon farming on a trial basis along the banks of the Andhikhola River.
The initiative is being implemented through the Birikot Agriculture and Livestock Development Project in collaboration with Heifer International. Mayor Govinda Kumar Karmacharya said the municipality aims to study the feasibility of watermelon cultivation and move towards commercial production.
According to the mayor, the local climate and soil have been found suitable for watermelon farming. In the first phase, farmers have been provided with seeds, seedlings, tools, and technical support to promote commercial cultivation.
“This is probably the first time watermelon farming has been started in the district,” he said. “In the initial phase, farmers are growing it on a trial basis. If the results are encouraging, we will expand it to large-scale commercial production.”
Farmers will sell the produce themselves, and if they are unable to do so, the municipality will take responsibility for marketing the watermelons, the mayor added.
The trial cultivation has been launched on 20 ropanis of land along the Andhikhola riverbanks, including areas around the Birikot playground in Ward No. 1, Pakan in Ward No. 4 and Ward No. 5, and Ekuwar Phant in Ward No. 6. A total of 18 farmers are participating in the pilot project.
Agriculture technician Anish Aryal said the watermelons planted this season are expected to be ready for harvest by the end of Jestha (mid-June). As this is the district’s first and model demonstration of watermelon farming, local farmers will gain practical knowledge and skills to move toward commercial production, he added.
Two watermelon varieties—Laxmi and Saraswati—have been planted under the model project. The municipality is also promoting off-season vegetable production, including capsicum and Akabare chili, alongside watermelon cultivation.
