Watermelon Whiz: Shah G’s Success Story in Peshawar’s Market

APP

Peshawar: In the early hours of the morning, Shaheen Shah, a 48-year-old fruit seller, revs up his Suzuki van to transport a fresh stock of watermelons from the bustling Chamkani fruits market. With demand skyrocketing in Peshawar’s lucrative market, Shaheen is determined to maximize his earnings.

Assisted by his son, Shaheen efficiently loads the watermelons onto his van. They make regular trips to the Chamkani fruit market, where Shaheen actively participates in open auctions before heading back to his hometown, Amankot, in the Nowshera district.

Having inherited the business from his father, Shaheen notes a remarkable surge in the demand for seedless watermelons, especially with the onset of the scorching summer season. This year, he’s been selling between 50 to 80 watermelons per day at Rs80 per kilogram, a significant increase from last year’s Rs50 per KG.

Known affectionately as Shah G, Shaheen predicts a further surge in demand for watermelons as temperatures continue to rise in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). With anticipation of higher profits, Shaheen expresses his optimism while loading the unique and nutritious fruit, renowned for its sweet, watery pink and red pulp.

With 92 percent water content, watermelons have become a preferred choice for people during the summer months, especially in regions like Peshawar where temperatures soar during wheat harvesting and construction work.

This juicy fruit helps in staying hydrated for extended periods, making it a staple in the diets of people from all walks of life, including laborers, farmers, and daily wage workers in KP.

Watermelon’s refreshing taste and affordable prices compared to other fruits like apples, melons, and oranges have made it popular among people of all age groups.

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In Peshawar, major fruit markets like Chamkani, Gulbahar, Hashtnagri, Firdus, Nothia, Board Bazaars, and Tehkal are brimming with various varieties of watermelons sourced from Punjab and southern districts of KP.

Currently, an eight-kilogram watermelon is priced at Rs 640, compared to Rs 600 last year in Peshawar, prompting the need for the district administration to monitor and regulate prices.

This fruit holds a special place in the hearts of Pakhtoons and Afghans, often becoming a favorite item post-lunch, dinner, and during social gatherings.

Zard Ali, an inter provincial watermelon dealer told APP at Chamkani fruits markets that Punjab watermelon is available at Rs 160,000 to Rs150,000 per loaded truck and KP are priced at Rs130,000 to Rs 120,000 per truck this year against Rs120,000 to Rs110,000 of Punjab and Rs110, 000 to Rs 100,000 per truck of KP last year.

Associated with the profitable business for the last 10 years, he said that most of his colleagues linked with the watermelon business were earning double these days due to an increase in its sales in Peshawar.

He urged the KP government to announce a special relief package for watermelon affected farmers after recent rains damaged the crop.

Dr Abdul Bhari, Director General of Agriculture Extension said that cultivation of watermelon was first started in Africa some 5,000 years ago and later it made inroads to Egypt and Europe. By the 7th century, it impressed the people of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent and began its cultivation here.

Following the creation of Pakistan, he said the watermelons’ cultivation was launched in Sindh and Punjab provinces on pilot basis and later in KP and Balochistan mostly for domestic consumption.

In Pakistan, over 55.87 percent of watermelon was produced in Punjab, 21.29 percent in Balochistan, 10.29 percent in Sindh and 11.84 percent in KP, adding over 1,200 variants of watermelon are grown in more than 96 countries including Pakistan.

Its production starts in April and continues till September across Pakistan due to its fertile land suitable for cultivation.

“Watermelons prefer sandy loam soils with good drainage and a soil pH of 7.5 to 8. It requires a moderate temperature to grow,” he said.

Dr Bari said the cold temperature affects its growth while very hot temperatures have an adverse effect on the pollination process resulting in reduced yields.

“The seedless watermelons have a great demand in international markets but it requires higher levels of inputs, capital and managerial skills of the farmers than seeded varieties” he said.

Larkana, Qambar, Shehdadkot in Sindh, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Bhakar, Mandi Bhauddin in Punjab and DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Mardan and Charsadda in KP are ideal for the cultivation of seedless watermelons for commercial purposes, he said adding up to 200 percent extra premium could be earned from seedless varieties.

Watermelon is a profitable cost-efficient fruit and a farmer can easily obtain up to 12 tons of production from one acre by using just two kilograms of seeds to earn Rs10,000 per 200 KG.

Pakistani watermelon is very popular in the Middle East due to its mouthwatering sweet taste, high energy, water and nutrition level and a substantial revenue could be earned through commercial production of seedless varieties.

Dr Riaz Khan, senior medical specialist of Govt Hospital Pabbi Nowshera said that watermelon was very useful for people with direct exposure to sun during summer because it keeps people hydrated for longer hours.

He said it was also useful in managing diabetes, supporting the heart, avoiding kidney disorders, and hypertension, reducing asthma attacks, and weight gain, balancing pH levels and preventing exhaustion besides minimizing the risks of prostate cancers.

“Watermelons can help reduce the risk of heat strokes, especially in big cities like Karachi, Peshawar, and Lahore and advise laborers, traffic policemen and fruit vendors to use it regularly and make part of their diet to avoid heat strokes in hot summer,” he said.

He said watermelon is full of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C, magnesium and potassium, which is extremely beneficial for people’s health.

He further advised them to consume it as much as they can to avoid vomiting, gas and indigestion complications.

The senior doctor recommended people especially senior citizens not to use it in large quantities soon after meals to avoid nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, gas and indigestion complications.

He warned patients with high sugar levels to take this delicious fruit after consultation with their doctors.

The feature report was released by APP. All information and facts provided are the sole responsibility of the writer.