Shillong, August 6: Despite six years of successfully cultivating watermelons, farmers of Mynriang village under Mawryngkneng Block in East Khasi Hills say they are still waiting for meaningful support from the Meghalaya government to help expand production and improve marketing opportunities.
Located around 45 kilometres from Shillong, Mynriang is home to more than 1,000 residents across nearly 200 households. Situated near the borders of West Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts, the village has emerged as one of Meghalaya’s leading watermelon-producing areas, with nearly every household involved in cultivation.
Watermelon farming has become a major source of livelihood for the village, particularly among young people who have embraced agriculture as a sustainable means of earning an income.
Speaking to reporters, farmer Jylliew Pyrkhat Lyngkhoi attributed the success of watermelon cultivation to the area’s fertile soil, favourable climate and the adoption of improved farming practices.
According to the farmers, watermelon is cultivated during the March-April sowing season and harvested between July and August. Each farmer typically cultivates around two acres of land allotted by the shnong (village community), with an average harvest exceeding one tonne of watermelons per season.
However, despite the steady growth of the sector, farmers expressed disappointment over the lack of adequate government assistance. They urged the Agriculture Department to conduct regular training programmes on scientific cultivation techniques to improve productivity and fruit quality.
They also appealed for the establishment of a dedicated watermelon market in Shillong, saying it would enable growers to sell directly to consumers and traders, reducing dependence on middlemen and ensuring better returns.
Lyngkhoi said Mawryngkneng Block is home to many hardworking farming communities and expressed confidence that, with proper government intervention, Mynriang has the potential to develop into a centre of excellence for watermelon cultivation in Meghalaya.
Currently, watermelons from the village are sold at approximately ₹30 per kilogram, with traders purchasing the produce directly from farms. The harvest is supplied to markets in Shillong as well as Nongstoin, Jowai and Rymbong.
While production is not yet sufficient to meet demand across the entire state, farmers said the village’s output is capable of meeting a significant portion of Shillong’s seasonal requirement.
The villagers also called for the establishment of a horticulture testing facility or a processing unit in the area, noting that agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for almost every household in Mynriang.
Farmers said watermelon cultivation has not only generated employment but also significantly improved the economic condition of many families. They pointed out that while Shillong previously depended largely on watermelons imported from states such as Karnataka, Mynriang has demonstrated that premium-quality, marketable watermelons can now be successfully grown within the hills of Meghalaya.
