Generating amazing wealth with watermelon cultivation.

Growing watermelon, amazingly, requires minimal cost, but a very high propensity to make a farmer generate wealth in less than three months and break away from poverty.

It is one of the highly cultivated and consumed crops believed to have originated almost 5,000 years ago from the Kalahari Desert of Africa.

When you consider quick cash in farming, watermelon is among the crops to plant. The gestation is 70 and 90 days (depending on varieties), average days for maize and sweet potatoes.

Cultivated all over tropical climate, it is produced all over in Nigeria but at different periods for optimal bumper harvest.

Time of planting
Watermelon is best planted at the outset of the raining season or when the raining season is almost done. This would allow for low relative humidity, a condition essential for normal growth of the crop in southern Nigeria. In the northern parts, he said, early season planting is in May and late season planting is July. But with functional irrigation in the north, it could be planted round the year, accounting for why it is usually brought from the north.

Land preparation
Watermelon can be planted on flat land or on ridges/plant beds depending on the nature of the soil. According the plant physiologist, if the water table level is high (in the core raining season), seed beds or ridges are essential. It requires loamy soil or silt loam soil and it also performs well on heavy soil if it is well drained. It does not tolerate water logging and so, if planted on heavy soil, ridging will be helpful to improve drainage. On loamy soil, it is usually planted on the flat land.

Harvest
One way to determine when watermelon is ripe is to watch the tendril closest to the melon stem. A tendril is a modified leaf or stem in the shape of slender, spirally coil. When it turns brown and dries up, the melon is ripe. The trouble with this method is that with some watermelon varieties, the tendril dries and drops off more than a week before the melon is fully ripe. The surest sign of ripeness in most watermelon varieties is the color of the bottom spot where the melon sits on the ground. As the watermelon matures, the spot turns from almost white to a rich yellow. Also, all watermelons lose the powdery or slick appearance on the top and take on a dull look when fully ripe.

Capital requirement
planting one hectare (15 plots of land) of watermelon would require about N190,000. Breaking the cost down.
land clearing, plowing and harrowing one hectare mechanically would cost about N20,000
seeds, N50,000
planting and weeding labour would cost N34,000
fertilizer (four bags and application labour) and N30,000
Insecticide, application labour, N20,000
sprayer N10,000 and other expenses, N20,000.

Yield potential and marketing
On one hectare of land, 10,000 seeds can be planted using 1metre by 1metre spacing, of 10,000 watermelon seeds are successfully grown, each will produce at least two big fruits if fertilizer is properly applied and weeds controlled at the appropriate time. So, no fewer than 20,000 watermelons would be harvested on one hectare of land, all things being equal.

According to street value survey of watermelon, a mini truck containing 500 units of the product is sold for N50,000. Dividing 20,000 estimated harvest by 500 would make 40 mini trucks of watermelon. Multiplying this by N50,000 would mean N2 million. This is the minimum estimate.

Marketing watermelon, is easier, as many bulk buyers about in major cities, especially at fruits market. You can also sell the produce to supermarkets and local fruit retailers.

We have in large quantities the seedless watermelon for planting.

Looks too profitable to believe. Can it still be planted in the South West?

Yes.
Grow anywhere in Nigeria

We plant it here in southwest butyou cannot generate2million naira on one hectare of land.

bigproject:
We plant it here in southwest butyou cannot generate2million naira on one hectare of land.

How much can one generate?

Kalusam:


How much can one generate?

Now let go practical so follow me step by step on this thread
https://www.nairaland.com/1943206/thread-new-platain-cucumber-watermelon

Are you interested in having a plantain farm in south West Nigeria, Abeokuta to be precise with access to ready market? search no further, join us at Highhill Plantain Village, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Are you Abroad, Lagos or its environs interested in having a plantain farm?

If YES, then stop looking for land in far away you can actually get an acre of highly fertile land with all necessary documents including total plantain farm setup and 1 year management for just N650k Awowo Town Ewekoro LGA. Along Abeokuta/Express Way, Ogun State.

Check it out here
http://nigeriaplantainvillage..com/2015/01/are-you-interested-in-having-plantain_15.html?m=1.

Are you sure one can generate such amount from this? Just asking

karlxavier:
Are you sure one can generate such amount from this? Just asking

what amount?

Please don't jump into Agribusiness.
http://newsroom.nannewsnigeria.com/entrants-agriculture-fail-due-lack-research-planning-says-expert

people always place a mouth watering amount that can be made from farming and a lot of people also asked as first question how much do i make as profit,but all this is wrong,first just be convinced it is something you want to do.Then follow with questions and research.

The business is profitable but don't expect 2million on one hectare of land and ready to spend your time, strenth and money (am into it)

I Am interested on the business just because I have been running away from agriculture a long tome ago. but now I Am ready to do it with all my might. Please I need advice and encouragement. Thanks

sobay2003:
I Am interested on the business just because I have been running away from agriculture a long tome ago. but now I Am ready to do it with all my might. Please I need advice and encouragement. Thanks

You can contact me.

Do you manage watermelon farms? You said two million naira above, if I get the estimated amount, could you set it up and manage it till it gets to maturity

another lying poster spotted

All these internet farmers that lure unsuspecting folks with mouthwatering unfathomable prospect of incredible Profit that are largely unrealistic.

Have you considered that the project might turn out to be a huge failure due to so many uncertainties associated with watermelon farming?

Please people should not take everything they read online too seriously (i.e hook, line and sinker).

Always do your own research and study.