A Cross-Section of melon farmers in Enugu have urged the youths to take up melon farming, generally called ‘egusi’ as their source of income, saying that it was a lucrative venture.

Some melon farmers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday said that more farmers in melon farming are needed to boost its availability and also enhance its reduction in price.

Mrs Maria Nwankwo, a melon farmer in Awgwu, near Enugu, said that melon farming was a very lucrative business that anyone who is interested in making financial profit should engage in.

Nwankwo regretted that little or no concentration was usuall given to melon farming, as against other farm produce.

“Melon farming business is a lucrative business which anyone interested in earning a living can embrace, although, many are not talking about taking it up as something worth doing,” she said.

Mr Sunday Ajoh, another melon farmer, said that many people, who were into melon farming were not cultivating it on a commercial basis but for their personal use.

“Most people that are into melon farming do it for their personal use, it is only a few people who farm the produce for business,” Ajoh said.

Another melon farmer, Mrs Agnes Agu, said that youths could only venture into melon farming business, if the Federal Government would encourage them, just as it is doing for rice, cassava and yam farmers.

Agu added that the emphasis and the encouragement that were given to the rice, cassava and yam farmers had made such produce to be much more available in markets across the country.

She called on government to do same to encourage melon farmers, saying that it would go a long way to encourage the youths and as well reduce the price of melon in the market.

Mr Uchefuna Ozo, a melon seller at Akwata market, said that the price of a milk-cup of melon remained very high.

According to Ozo, a milk-cup measure of melon now goes for between N250 and N300, as against N180 and N220 as at January.

A Nutritionist, Mrs Ifeoma Nzekwe, said that melon seed locally called Egusi, had enough essential minerals and vitamins which promotes eye vision, improves the skin and hair, as well as other numerous benefits. (NAN)

– June 29, 2018 @ 12:49 GMT |