Arka Shyama an open pollinated watermelon variety under icebox segment was grown under trial in half acre area in the field of Mr. Ranjan Barman, a vegetable grower of Jarkong village, Pasighat, East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Mr. Ranjan Barman had raised the nursery in portrays in the last week of January, 2023. Cropping period was Summer, 2023 (Feb-April, 2023). He planted the crop at 60 cm in triangular pattern on raised bed (1m) at a spacing of 2.7 m between rows. He had practiced all the recommended practices for watermelon cultivation and the fruits were ready for harvest from last week of April. Mr. Ranjan Barman was constantly in touch with Multi-technology Testing Center and Vocational Training Centre faculty (Dr V. Bhargav and Dr T. Yatung) and they visited his field regularly under NEH component of ICAR-IIHR.
Farmer was very happy with the performance of the variety as from the first 4 harvests he got a yield of 3t/ half acre. Each fruit weighing 2-3 kg could fetch good price in the market with Rs 25/kg in the wholesale rate and Rs. 35-40/kg in retail price. In just a period of three and half month crop duration, he had earned a net profit of Rs. 1.6 lakh from an half acre land. He opined that the fruits are medium size, crisp flesh, dark red, sweet in taste and good for small family which had a great demand among the consumers. He had also expressed that crop performed well under foothills and the yield was at par with the hybrids. He has also motivated other neighboring farmers in the village to grow this kind of improved variety which was developed by ICAR-IIHR. Thus, it gives an opportunity for area expansion and diversification of crop to earn good return by the farmers of Arunachal Pradesh.
