Dayan Highland Watermelon

Dayan Highland Watermelon

　　Dayan Town is situated in the southwestern mountainous region of Fenghua City, featuring a subtropical monsoon climate with well-defined seasons, warm and humid weather, abundant sunshine, and rich soil — making it very suitable for growing watermelons. Dayan watermelons are known for being sweet and fresh, and are sold in areas such as Fenghua, Ningbo, and Shanghai, receiving acclaim from many consumers. Dayan farmers have been cultivating watermelons for many years, and the fruit has become an important source of income for them. This year, the town has planted watermelons on 2,000 mu of land, mainly distributed across 36 villages including Shanmen, Zhutouling, Baikeng, Zhangjia, Fengshuling, Zha’ao, Dayan, and Houfan. Currently, the watermelons are growing well and are expected to hit the market around the Beginning of Autumn. The total yield across the town is projected to exceed 3,000 tons, with an estimated output value of 6 million yuan.

　　In recent years, with the rise of high-efficiency agriculture, the Dayan Town government has made highland watermelon production a priority. The town’s top Party and government leaders, along with technical staff from the city’s Agricultural Technology Extension Center, have jointly invested in establishing a 20-mu demonstration base for high-quality, high-yield watermelons in Shanmen Village, guiding farmers toward science-based watermelon farming and gradually moving toward high-efficiency agriculture. To address the concerns of watermelon growers, the town has organized a sales team of over 100 farmers to expand sales channels. With the correct guidance and support of the Dayan Town government, the Agriculture Bureau, and other departments, Dayan Highland Watermelons are developing toward higher quality and greater efficiency.

　　Experts from Zhejiang University and local agronomists have been invited to provide on-site guidance. By making full use of natural conditions and adopting organic cultivation methods, the watermelons are genuinely green and health-promoting foods. Full-light cultivation and grafting techniques are employed, along with nutrient-rich seedling cultivation, rational fertilization, artificial pollination, resulting in high fruit-setting rates and well-shaped fruits.

　　Dayan Town has moved away from the previous dominance of varieties like Xin Hongbao, introducing multiple superior strains from Taiwan and other regions. Currently, the cultivated varieties include Xinyi, Xiaolan, Baofeng, Huaguan, Jinlong, Fengguang, Black Beauty, Zhemie, and Zhengza — all first-generation high-quality hybrid varieties. The fruit sizes range from small (1–3 kilograms) to large (4–8 kilograms). (Fenghua)