GROWING WATER MELONS

• Agriculture
• Fruits and Vegetables

Introduction

This business idea is aimed at growing and marketing of watermelons. The idea is premised on harvesting 12,000 watermelons per quarter which translates into 48,000 watermelons per year. The revenue potential is estimated at USD 500 per year. The business has a good market demand throughout the year and can provide employment to the youths and women. The Project cost is about US$ 2080. 

Production process

Dig plenty of organic matter into the soil to provide the conditions watermelons need: a light, sandy, fertile loam soil that is well drained yet retains moisture. Plant Watermelons after both air and soil temperatures have reached 65°F usually two to three weeks after the last rainfall. Direct sowing is best if your growing season is long enough for the plants to mature. For each plant, dig a hole two feet in diameter and a foot deep, and add at least a shovelful of compost or well-cured manure and a trowel or two of bone meal. Set hardened-off transplants into the ground at the depth they were growing in their pots. Sow seeds an inch deep in hills. Allow plenty of space between plants. Apply a thick organic mulch to hold in moisture, Remove all covers as soon as flowers appear so that bees and other insects can pollinate the plants, and begin fertilizing with compost tea every three weeks and should be ready to pick about 35 days later.

Market Analysis

There is a growing market for fruits such as watermelons country wide especially in urban areas. Water melons can be supplied to Fruits’ vendors, market vendors, hotels, supermarkets and canteens. There are so many investors in this sector spread across the Country especially in Central Uganda.

Machines & tools required in US$ 

Item    Unit		Qty	Unit Cost	Total
Wheelbarrows	No.	2	25	50
Hand tools.	No.	1	50	50
Total cost of Machinery				100

 Project Product Cost and Price Structure in US$

Item	Qty /yr.	Unit cost	Prod./yr.	Unit price	Total Revenue ($)
Water melon	48,000	0.55	26,400	0.6	28,800

 Collection costs assumed 12 months per year with a weekly capacity of 2,551 products.   

Depreciation (fixed assets write off) assumes 4 years life of assets write off of 25% per year for garbage collection vans.

Direct costs include: materials, supplies and other costs that directly go into production of the product.

 Profitability analysis in US $

Profitability item	per Quarter	per year
Revenue
Water melons	7,200	28,800
Less Prod & Operating Costs	867	1,980
Profit	6,333	26,820