KUMAR Ramdass, a 21-year-old farmer in Little Biaboo, Mahaica was in all smiles early this week when he harvested over 60,000 pounds of watermelons, thanks to the intervention of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Not only did the institute provided guidance to the young farmer, but it helped him to find a market for some of the watermelons. “This is what we like to see, young people getting involve in agriculture and making a living for themselves,” NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer said.

Ramdass’ parents are farmers and when he finished high school four years ago, he went straight into farming.

His first crop was watermelon since there is a market for the fruits. However, his first couple of crops did not do well due to a disease affecting the fruits. This caused him and other watermelon farmers in the area to solicit help from NAREI.

Dr. Homenauth explained that farmers in Little and Big Biaboo were suffering financially because their crops were being affected by a watermelon-borne disease. “These farmers were investing their time and money and they were not getting a crop or if they did, it was not a lot and the quality was not marketable.”

NAREI’s boss said that after he heard what was happening in that area, he immediately dispatched a team to find solutions and help out the farmers. Spearheading that team was Research Scientist, Somwattie Pooran- DeSouza.

The team visited the area and conducted research and experiments to improve the productivity and sustainability of the watermelons. DeSouza said that she did an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) with fertilizer and fungicide.

“Basically, we tried to get farmers to use the correct fertilizer requirement for watermelon and the appropriate fungicide to control the bacteria and proper irrigation. Now that they are following our advice, they are getting a crop,” DeSouza said.

The 21-year-old farmer said that before NAREI’s intervention—he would sometimes harvest 24,000 pounds of watermelons. With his last crop, he got 60,000 pounds of watermelons.

Ramdass is now advising other persons, especially those who are unemployed to follow his footstep. “You can never go wrong with farming, you get to eat and make money,” he says.