Kudumbashree Women Farmers Record ₹6.78 Crore Turnover from Watermelon Harvest

Kudumbashree’s women farm groups across India have begun to harvest watermelons cultivated on 758 acres of land, registering a turnover of ₹6.78 crore so far. The farm groups, called joint liability groups (JLGs), have nearly doubled their turnover compared to last year, when it was ₹3.8 crore.

The JLGs, comprising 4,272 Kudumbashree members in 1,024 groups across 501 community development societies in 14 districts, are growing watermelons as part of seasonal cultivation. The watermelons are available in red, yellow, and seedless categories, with varieties including Kiran, Maharaja, and Sugar Baby.

According to S. Shanavas, State programme officer of Kudumbashree’s Farm Livelihood vertical, the high demand for watermelons due to the summer heat has resulted in a good price for the produce, with farmers getting ₹24 a kg compared to the market price of ₹20 a kg.

The Kudumbashree aims to increase local production of watermelons and enhance the income of JLG members, with the harvest expected to continue in the coming weeks. The court or relevant authorities are not involved in this matter, but the Kudumbashree will continue to support the women farmers in their efforts to increase production and income.