Haryana Farmer Cultivates Exotic Rainbow Watermelons in Five Vibrant Colors
Summer is the eagerly anticipated season for fruit lovers, a time to savor delights like mangoes and watermelons after waiting all year. A refreshing slice of these fruits offers a soothing escape from daily stress. Now, a farmer in Haryana is rewriting the agricultural narrative by introducing extraordinary and almost unbelievable colors of watermelons through his dedicated and relentless farming efforts.
Meet the Innovative Farmer Behind the Rainbow Harvest
Ram Pratap Sharma, a 63-year-old resident of Siwah village in Panipat, Haryana, has transformed his fields into a hub of exotic produce. His remarkable achievements earned him the prestigious Krishi Rattan Award in 2019, highlighting his contributions to agriculture.
According to reports, after studying up to the second year of college and assisting with family farming, Sharma transitioned to full-time fruit and vegetable cultivation in 2011. He embraced modern techniques such as polyhouses, nets, and drip irrigation as they gained popularity locally. Today, he supplies his produce to major cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana, catering to industrialists and online firms. His farm packages 10-15 kg bundles ready for quick pickup, ensuring freshness and efficiency.
Strategically located near National Highway-44, Sharma's farm allows him to deliver fresh goods to the Panipat mandi in just four minutes, keeping customers satisfied with prompt service. He employs seven laborers and cultivates over 20 vegetables per season, practicing intercropping methods with crops like kakri, tori, and karela, alongside fruits such as guava and dragon fruit. This year, he dedicated 1.5 acres to watermelons, with the remaining land used for spinach, fenugreek, guava, peach, and pomegranate.
What Are Rainbow Watermelons?
Sharma's claim to fame lies in his cultivation of five stunning watermelon varieties. While traditional watermelons typically feature green exteriors and red interiors, his special varieties boast flesh in five distinct colors: red, orange, dark yellow, light yellow, and blue. Reports indicate that he sources premium seeds from Thailand and Taiwan, costing approximately Rs 1 lakh per kilogram. Remarkably, only 300 grams of seeds are needed per acre to cultivate 6,000 plants, showcasing efficient resource use.
Pricing and Unique Varieties
These colorful watermelons are sold for ₹50 per kilogram. Sharma has also introduced three new varieties named Low Munch, Orange Munch, and 24 Carat Gold. Orange Munch features a green rind with bright orange flesh, while Yellow Munch has a green exterior and yellow flesh. The 24 Carat Gold variety stands out with its yellow rind and yellow flesh throughout. All these varieties are now available in markets at the same price point, offering consumers a vibrant and unique fruit experience.
The Journey to Growing Unique Colored Watermelons
Ram Pratap Sharma shared that he first trialed Taiwanese seeds on his farm in 2019, achieving significant success. Growing one acre of watermelon costs him around ₹2 lakh, but it generates approximately ₹6 lakh in revenue. After covering expenses, he nets about ₹4 lakh in profit per acre, demonstrating the lucrative potential of his innovative farming approach.
Recognition and Expert Praise
According to reports, Haryana's Director General of Horticulture, Ranbir Singh, has praised Sharma as "hardworking, innovative and progressive," noting his ability to generate high income from small land holdings through technology and strategic patterns. Singh has visited the farm multiple times to observe his methods.
Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Director at Gharaunda's Vegetable Centre of Excellence, highlighted Panipat's ideal sandy loam soils and government subsidies of up to 85% for tools like drip irrigation systems. He emphasized, "If a farmer puts in honest effort, he can easily earn Rs 2 lakh per acre annually from vegetables, coupled with fruit farming from the same fields." Sharma himself advocates for this approach, and his efforts have been previously honored by Haryana's former Chief Minister, further cementing his status as a pioneering figure in agriculture.
