Kavango West farmer celebrates first watermelon harvest

The Deutchment Horticulture Project has celebrated its first watermelon harvest, producing 91 F1 Kito and Crimson hybrid melons for the market at Rugcuva-Kakoro in the Musese constituency of the Kavango West region on Friday.

Project manager Nduku Chikuvire Panganai said the seeds were planted on 1 July and the produce harvested on 31 October.

The project currently employs one permanent and one casual worker, with plans to expand as production increases.

Panganai explained that the project cultivates a range of crops including papayas, green peppers, maize, sugarcane, pumpkins and okra, with the next harvest expected in December.

“We planted watermelons in early July. The F1 Kito variety is imported from Zimbabwe, while the Crimson seed is local. Our largest fruits weigh up to 12 kilograms, and the average is around 11 kilograms,” he said.

The project uses a solar-powered irrigation system with two submersible pumps drawing water from the nearby Kavango River about ten metres away.

“We use a wobbler sprinkler system, which waters evenly in an eight-centimetre radius. However, a drip irrigation system would be better to reduce weeding and conserve water,” Panganai explained.

Panganai said watermelon is a once-a-year crop, grown between July and November, before the rainy season starts.

He added that the produce is sold at around N$7 per kilogram.

“We mainly sell at open markets in Nkurenkuru and Rundu, and we are in talks with Amta to help distribute our produce more widely,” he said.

He noted that the project works closely with the community.

“We help each other. At night, I work as a security guard and during the day as a salesman. When there’s more work, I hire people from the community, and we agree on payment for a few days’ labour,” Panganai said.

Panganai practises crop rotation to maintain soil fertility, moving between cabbage, maize and okra, and relies entirely on organic fertilisers such as goat and cattle manure.

“I don’t use chemical fertilisers. I prefer organic farming methods. I stopped growing tomatoes because of pest problems,” says Panganai.

He estimates that his remaining watermelon field could yield another seven to eight tonnes of watermelon.

“Each watermelon can weigh between 12 and 15 kilograms. We select the best ones for the market to make good sales,” he said.

Encouraging fellow farmers, Panganai added: “We must work hard to feed the nation. The Kavango River can sustain not just Namibia but the whole southern countries. Let’s unite, work together and build our region”.

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