Bohol village tagged ‘Watermelon Country’

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Instead of dreading the dry season, at least 50 Boholano farmers have been hugging the heat.

After harvesting their palay in March, they immediately prepared a total of 60 hectares of rice fields to plant watermelons—the sweetest and juiciest in Bohol province—which thrive in warm temperature and for which their village, Balbalan in Dimiao town, has been known for.

“Welcome to Balbalan, Watermelon Country,” a signage greets motorists and visitors.

Not one of the 50 farmers can remember who started the practice of planting watermelons during summer. Cito Cagalawan, 47, said his grandparents used to do it but eventually stopped because only a handful would buy their produce.

The practice resumed nine years ago, attracting other rice farmers when they noticed that it was profitable.

Cito said he started planting watermelons seven years ago upon the advice of his friend, also a watermelon farmer in Balbalan. He became interested because he didn’t want to stay idle during summer, especially when his family depended on him.

“Just because the weather is hot, it doesn’t mean we will no longer work. Our pockets should not be empty because a lot of people depend on us,” he said in Cebuano.

So far, it has been financially rewarding.

Cito’s wife, Juvy, sells the watermelons under a small shed along the road for P30 to P35 per kilo. On a slow day, she could earn P2,000. When sales were brisk, her sales could go as high as P5,000.

Demand is high during the hot months.

Most of Cito’s customers are motorists who stop at the shed. Sometimes, vendors buy in bulk and sell the fruits in public markets in the capital city of Tagbilaran.

The profit has helped the couple pay the tuition of their three children—Jolina, 20; James, 18; Cito Jr., 15—who are all in college. Cito also plants cantaloupe and honeydew in his rice farm.

Every planting season, Cito usually spent at least P10,000 in farm inputs, including watermelon seeds, fertilizers and chemical spray. “We have to use fertilizers so the watermelons will grow bigger,” he said.

Although watermelons thrive on warm weather, he said these still need to be watered twice a day.

Generally, the fruits are ready for harvest after 65 to 90 days. One vine can produce five fruits.

Farmers usually thump the fruits to determine ripeness. A hollow sound indicate that it is right for picking.

Some farmers start planting in March while others wait till April when they have enough funds to buy farm inputs.

Lito Galleto, 37, said he started planting watermelon in 2012 after he was convinced by his wife, Paterna, to follow the example of their neighbors. The couple has two children—Valerie, 4, and John Dave, 1.

Galleto said he would usually start planting in April and harvest in late May or early June before the start of the rainy season.

Like Cito, he would spend at least P10,000 in farm inputs. But the yield was financially rewarding as he would would earn P80,000 to P90,000.

Galleto said the lowest profit in one harvest season was P30,000—which was still three times more than their capital. There were times when they could harvest twice from the same vines, though the first time yields bigger fruits.

Farmers can harvest 10 to 20 fruits per day for a month before the plants eventually die. Each fruit can weigh two to three kilos, to as heavy as four to six kilos.

The success of the Balbalan farmers has inspired farmers from the towns of Lila and Sierra-Bullones to also plant watermelons.

Now, the farmers look forward every summer because they continue to earn while waiting for the rainy season to come.