The municipality of Bani in Pangasinan has the reason to celebrate its Pakwan (watermelon) Festival after producing around 2,400 metric tons of watermelon amid disasters in 2024.

This output is lower than the about 2,500 metric tons produced by the town’s 215 watermelon farmers and workers, but municipal agriculturist Jeffrey Pamo, in an interview Thursday, said the volume remains good considering the disasters experienced last year.

Land area planted last year also declined to 110 hectares from 120 hectares in 2023, he said.

Pamo said around 70 to 80 percent of the plantations have already harvested and the remaining will be harvested by the last week of February to first week of March this year.

“Malaking tulong ang mga bigay ng gobyerno, gaya ng mga seeds mula sa Department of Agriculture at ng lokal na pamahalaan (Support from the government, such as the seeds from the Department of Agriculture and the local government, is a huge help),” he said.

Bani town declared a state of calamity due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in October last year.

Pamo said the watermelon farmers have adjusted their planting season and only few plantations have been affected.

“The affected farmers got their indemnity from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation,” he said.

Farmgate price of watermelon to date starts at PHP30 to PHP40 per kilo for the round varieties, while it is around PHP40 to PHP50 per kilo for the oblong varieties.

Pakwan Festival

Pamo said the municipal government allocated 1,200 pieces or 10,000 kilos of watermelon for the different activities of the Pakwan Festival, including the Pakwan Mass Slicing and Mass Eating, Pakwan Fruit Carving Competition, and Pakwan Cookfest on Jan. 30.

Among the activities for the week-long festival that started on Jan. 25 are agri-trade fair, farmer’s night, street parade and dance competition. (PNA)