Likely to run out of watermelon in the last 10 days of Ramadan: Council

Thoddoo Island Council says it was likely that the island will run out watermelon stocks in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan.

Thoddoo Council Secretariat’s Information Officer, Nooh Moosa said they had faced immense challenges catering to demand due to damaged fields and that it was likely they will run out of stock.

The Council said 90 percent of the farmers had been affected by the damaged watermelon fields. The farmers reported that red spots had appeared on the fruit and leaves, followed by complete damage of the produce in two or three days. They report that this had been seen before, but had exacerbated due to the rains.

The Council added that it was not likely the farmers will earn much this year by the sale of watermelons.

The fields have also been affected by pests as well.

In the first two days of Ramadan, a kilo of watermelon was selling for between MVR 15 and 18, which has dipped to between MVR 12 and 18.

Vendors had also reported of huge losses. This, however, had been offset by imports of watermelon to the market.

Nooh said that around 85 percent of the fields had been affected by pests and the rains. Noting that his was an irreversible loss, he said neither the Council nor the farmers have been able to find a solution to the issue.

Nooh highlighted that cheap imports of local produce had also contributed to losses faced by local farmers.

He said the losses had been shared with the Disaster Management Center.