The Taiwanese Technical Mission (TTM) in The Gambia, on Tuesday organised a one-day watermelon cultivation demonstration for the Banjulinding Women Horticultural Farmers to show that watermelons can also be grown in the dry season.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kevin Liao, TTM Horticultural Specialists, said watermelon cultivation is mostly done in the country during the rainy season due to the availability of water thus easing the work for farmers. But, according to him, this could also be done in the dry season as the temperatures are high in the day and cold in the night. At this time, the conditions also produce a sweeter melon.

For his part, Jerry Liao, also a TTM horticultural specialist, said the sub-region mostly experiences sub-tropical rainfall but, in The Gambia, it is normally dry and the temperature is usually hot which is different from other areas. He said that in the dry season every farmer should plant watermelons when the rain is coming to an end, noting that this will reduce the seedlings from the plant and grow good quality fruits.
Other speakers at the ceremony included, Kadessa Sambou, President of the Banjulinding Women Farmers Association, and Ousman Jarju, Head of Horticultural Unit at the Department of State for Agricultural, who urged farmers to be committed to their work in order to yield high quality watermelons.