Melaka: Increasingly unpredictable weather is no longer a hindrance but has instead become an advantage for local watermelon growers, who are leveraging seasonal variations across the country to sustain year-round production.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, watermelon entrepreneur Koh Eng Koon said differences in rainfall patterns between the northern and southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia allow for staggered planting, thus preventing supply disruptions in the market. "Based on my more than 30 years of experience in this field, I have observed that weather patterns in Malaysia shift from north to south. So when it starts raining in the northern states, I shift planting to areas in the south. We follow the weather, not fight it," he told Bernama.

He noted that understanding weather patterns has been crucial, taking him between five and 10 years to fully comprehend seasonal trends in specific areas to plan planting more precisely. Additionally, the strategy of planting across multiple states ensures production remains unaffected while reducing the risk of losses due to extreme weather in any single location.

Koh explained that they have farms in almost all states except Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak. At each location, planting is limited to around 300 to 500 hectares to provide a backup if one area is affected. He started with just four acres of land in Tiang Dua, Melaka, in the early 1980s, and the largest farm operated by his company, Koon Huat Agriculture, is located in Tebonglang, Melaka, covering up to 200 acres.

Through this strategy, watermelon cultivation, particularly the Cinta Manis variety, now spans thousands of hectares nationwide, with a planting schedule of between 800 and 1,200 acres per month, enabling a continuous supply. Daily production is estimated at between 250 and 350 tonnes, depending on weather conditions, with farm management carried out systematically, involving hundreds of workers and dozens of supervisors across the country.

Selecting seeds suited to the local climate has become a critical factor after various early trials failed to produce the desired quality. Koh mentioned that they now choose stable varieties like the Cinta Manis, which produce crunchy and sweet flesh. Each variety requires a different approach, including water and nutrient control as well as harvesting periods, to ensure optimal fruit quality, with some varieties harvested as early as 26 to 28 days after flowering.

He emphasized the sector's potential, especially for the younger generation, as it can be developed into agro-tourism while also opening avenues in technology and continuous research. The Department of Agriculture supports those interested by providing various courses, programmes, and grants.