We had our first harvest last Thursday and was immediately bought by only one buyer! Though I believe they harvested only around 50 - 60 fruits basing from the figures reported to me. The main harvest will be on the 10th of this month and my people might start selling in our stall along the highway after the harvest. We are also hoping that there will be another buyer who would buy in bulk in the next harvest so as to lessen the fruits that will be needed to be sold in the stall.
I wasn't able to post some pics of the harvesting activity and the sample for the free taste this time as my L was not in the mood to send them to me. Her mood swings from left to right unexpectedly these past few days but I hope she could send me new photos soon.
The prevailing price for watermelon at the moment is just the same as last year, 20 - 25 pesos/ kilo for the green watermelon. For the yellow ones I still need to check but I think it will be around 40 - 50 pesos per kilo. So what are you waiting for. Buy na!!!
Hi Romer,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog while researching on planting watermelons in the Philippines. I was so amazed on how you write your update from time to time. I can feel the excitement in you while writing it. The reason why I checked your blog is because I am also planting watermelons. (Actually, not really me in action because I'm based in Manila at the moment). Its actually my partner who's doing the job along with our technician. I don't even know what variety was it. To be honest also it is our first time to venture on this kind of business. So far, so good. I have a lot of questions for you regarding this matter. I hope you can lend me your precious time on this.
Cheers,
thank you for reading my blog. actually it is just a hobby for me to write some things like this. Where do you plant your watermelons? We are just the same, I have somebody managing our watermelons during watermelon season. Right now it is the second cropping in our place but I don't like having 2nd crop because of bad experience by my technician before on their 2nd crop. You may post your questions here and I will try to answer it.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteJust as I thought, my replies were not posted. (hehe) But that's alright, anyways, I'm actually thinking of writing my own blog. I just don't know where to start. I can't find a perfect time for it as well. Maybe somedayy I will write my own. Now, back to the topic. We planted our watermelons in Capiz. I think it started last week of January 2014. My partner told me that it's already crawling and the area is so green. That's good news right? As of now, we have some problems with our technician. My partner thinks that he's asking too much from us. The technician actually planted 1 1/2 can for his own on our land and aside from that he also gets something from the entire crop. I think half of the profit. That's too much right? We only planted on a 3 hectare land. Is that enough for a first timer? By the way, how do you deal with your technician? Like profit sharing and stuff. Hope you can enlighten us on this.
Thanks,
i'm sorry for my late reply. I was very busy with my work these days. My father is from Ilo-ilo also. hehe... Are we relatives? Of course it is good news when your watermelons start crawling. Several days more and they will tell you that they are bearing fruits already. 3 hectares is already huge, in our case we only have less than 2 hectares. Ok so regarding profit sharing, in my case I have 1 technician and 4 workers. My technician is the one who came up with a fair profit sharing. They list their working hours from start up until selling is done. From the gross profit, we deduct first the rent for land, equipments, water etc... And then the net profit will be divided to the total working hours of all the involved people. Finally, the share for each worker will depend on how many total hours he worked. You see, this is fair because the one who worked more will be rewarded more and the one who is lazy will get less. And in my case who is the financier, I will get a profit share which is equal to the one who have the largest share (most of the time same with the technician). That's fine with me already because I was able to give source of income for several people during post rice harvest in our place.
ReplyDeleteIn your case, is the half of the profit that your technician asking for refers to the net profit? Like all the payments for the other workers, rent for the land etc. were already deducted?
There are other cases that the net profit will be divided equally to... Let's say 1 technician + 3 workers + you (your money). The net profit will be divided into 6. Why 6? the technician sometimes asked two shares. And you will get 1 share plus if that is your land, you can charge 1.50 - 2 pesos/ hole meaning if your people were able to plant 15000 holes, you'll get additional 30k pesos aside from your money's share.
No need to say sorry. My partner is from Capiz I was born and raised in Davao. I'm just here in Manila for work. Hearing from your side, I guess its somehow fair. Its actually half of the Net profit. We have 3 workers and they are paid on a daily basis. They will also be given a certain percent from the net profit plus rice. I think that's what my partner did.
ReplyDeleteMy partner also decided to plant another set. But this time the technician was not involved. It was just us, who will take care of it and we hired workers to take care of the rest. They already started planting today.
I think for me the demand of your technician is ok. If my memory serves me right, that profit sharing (50-50 after all are deducted) was also the agreement of my technician with his financier last year when they planted watermelon for the second cropping. Although, I heard that they did not earn well for that venture.
ReplyDeleteIf your partner can do the work of technician, then you don't need another technician. The outcome of your venture will mostly depend on your technician because, he decides when to fertilize, drenching, spraying fungicides, watering and stop watering days before the harvest.
Watering should be stopped several days before the harvest in order for the fruits to be sweeter. That's my understanding from my discussion with my techinican before.
Good luck on your venture bro!
Update me about it if you have time. On our next season, I'll be posting here more detailed entries about our watermelon planting.
As of now my partner is also learning the basics of planting these watermelons. My partner then applies it to our newly planted batch. She does her research most of the time and also asking advise from fellow growers in the area.
ReplyDeleteEarlier today, she had a confrontation with our tech guy. We found out that we are being overpriced on the seeds, equipment and even our rent for the land. She was furious. She even told the tech that we will stop the deal and just go on without him. I mean I understand where she's coming from. We invested not just money here but also our trust.
Eventually, the confrontation cleared things up. And I told my partner to clearly explain to them who's the boss around here. We still have around a month more a per our tech and were good. Too much for a first timer right? Well, I hope everything will go smoothly from now on.
I'll keep an eye on your blog from time to time. I learned a lot from you sir. Thank you for that. I will keep you posted.
my pleasure to help. it is good that you found out about the overpricing issue immediately. your partner should be the one buying those seeds, tarpaulins, fuel for water pump, water pipes etc. and keeping the receipts of all expenses.
ReplyDeletemay I know the selling price for watermelon in your place? also, how are you going to market your produce?
i wish you and your partner well on your venture bro.
Our mistake was we trusted the tech too much. Good thing that we found out early. There will be no next time for him that's for sure. About the pricing, I was informed by my partner that it's around 1200 per "ka-ing" (rattan woven basket). Probably fits around 8 to 10 watermelon (depending on the size). There is already a buyer in the area. This buyer actually buys most of the produce around this area as what I've heard. My partner would actually like to market it here in Manila. I am not sure though if its a good idea knowing the cost for the transportation and all.
ReplyDeleteAre you in Pangasinan? How do you market your watermelons? By the way did you attend seminars before venturing to this industry?
Yes, I'm from Pangasinan. I haven't attended any seminar before though. We sell some along the highway and other buyers in bulk buy from us also.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, about the pricing, there are 2 ways a buyer buys in our place. One way is per area where in the buyer checks the whole area by roaming around and gives his fixed price for the whole harvest (all in kumbaga - small or big). The other way which we prefer for the past 2 seasons is per kilogram (12 pesos/kg for 6 kg and up while 8 pesos/kg for below 6 kg). We prefer the 2nd one because my technician knows that most of the fruits are above 6 kg.
The mentioned price (wholesale) is for Kaneko variety (green color). While for Diana variety (yellow color), it is around 25 pesos and up for every kg at any size. Diana tastes sweeter according to my wife (I don't eat watermelon by the way). LOL!
For retailing watermelon in Manila, check out the prevailing price and other expenses if it is feasible for you and your partner. In our place, we sell them along the highway with a modest profit already. How much more if in Manila? ;)
I am planning to bring our produce in the future also in other province like La Union or Baguio for retailing but unfortunately I have yet to find a place to be our stall.
I think what they are practicing there is the same what you mentioned on surveying the area and this buyer will provide a fixed price. All the while I really though that we are selling it per kilo. I might suggest that to my partner. Its a good thing that you have a fruit stand (stall). The variety we have, they call it "sweet ball". I think that's the stripe ones. But they also planted other varieties.
ReplyDeleteLocation wise, your area is better. Your near Manila, Baguio and La Union. That would be nice if you can penetrate those areas. We'll probably do the feasibility study on bringing those watermelons here in Manila. We just need a buyer willing to transport it from Capiz to Manila. By the way, how come you don't it watermelons? It's delicious! :)
The only problem if you will sell by per kg is that you need to hire people to harvest and place them somewhere for taking the weight and loading them to the truck. While if the buyer buys the whole area, he will be the one to hire the people. We just pay a rent for the stall along the highway.
ReplyDeleteSweet ball (or is it sugar ball?) I believe is from East West seeds, our bulk buyers prefer the pure green type like Kaneko because they said it is preferred by their costumer. We tried Sugar ball 2 years ago, but we had a hard time selling them to our costumers as compared to Kaneko and Diana.
I don't know, I just don't want the taste of watermelon. Weird no? LOL!
Nice exchange of informations! Keep 'em coming bro.
Haha. That's really weird. You're right we bought our seeds from east west. It could be the sugar ball. We also have that Green ones, those that look like bowling balls right? People also prefer that because it's juicier and sweeter. Regarding the buying per kilo, you're also correct on that one. It can be very time consuming as well.
ReplyDeleteWe're very excited on the outcome on this watermelons. We will be harvesting very soon. Probably towards the end of March. Crossing my fingers here for a profitable harvest.
I'll keep you updated on the outcome bro! Cheers!
Good luck on your harvest bro! I think the only problems for a watermelon grower usually are storm which might damage the crops, pest/ fungus which can affect the whole area if left undetected and no buyer. I am not sure though if I forgot to mention something...
ReplyDeleteExcited to hear from you regarding your harvest!