Pakistan possesses rich fertile soil and the best climatic conditions for cultivating not only major crops but also fruits and vegetables. In horticultural markets, fruits contribute about 40 per cent and vegetables 38 per cent share.

Fruits and vegetables are a rich and comparatively cheaper source of food and provide important nutrients such as, proteins, fats, starch, minerals and vitamin, and thus, their consumption becomes necessary for a balanced diet.

Musk melon (cucumis melo) also called, “Cantaloupe” is a creeping cucurbit, originated from Iran and Pakistan and is produced in Kashmir and Afghanistan also.

Being a member of Cucurbit family muskmelon is known as a vegetable although horticulturists claim that it considered a fruit. It has a lot of medicinal values and is used as a tonic, laxative and diuretic.

Muskmelon is good source of vitamins A, B and C and improves the urinary discharge. Its seed are also used in cases of liver and kidney troubles, throat burning, thirst and chronic fever.

In Sindh, muskmelon was cultivated on about 1688 hectares during 2001, and its total production was about 17547 metric tons during the same year. It is usually cultivated in ‘kutcha’ as well as in the irrigated areas and is known as a money-maker crop. There are number of varieties in the world but in Pakistan, farmers grow only two varieties i.e. golden and dharidar.

Muskmelon requires more heat than other cucurbits and can not survive temperature below 200 C. Hot and dry air and sunshine during ripening period is necessary for development of high sugar and right taste for muskmelon.

During the germination time optimum temperature is required 27-29 C. It is generally grown under warm weather and high humidity, which is available only in the tropical area of Thatta & Badin district.

Land preparation is an initial task for muskmelon to achieve better yield. Normally one deep ploughing is carried out for opening the surface and sub- soil.

After deep ploughing, most of growers use gobble for land preparation i.e. 2-3 per hectare, followed by 2-3 cultivators. The total cost on land development was found to be Rs4449 in case of winter crop and Rs3708 during the summer crop.

Application of farmyard manure is necessary to keep plant healthy, vigorous and productive because it fulfils the nutritional requirements of the plant. FYM contains about 2 per cent N, 1.7 per cent K20 and 0.4 per cent in P2O5, while fresh poultry dropping contains twice as much N, much richer in P205 and K20 against FYM.

Handling operation starts soon after harvesting of muskmelon and continue up to packing. Growers hire extra labour for handling the muskmelon. This is labour intensive operation, which includes picking, gathering, and transportation from field to packing floor then cleaning, grading, labelling, and finally packing in the crates. Grading of muskmelon is an important operation before packing.

Sale price variation was recorded in muskmelon. There are number of reasons such as, availability of other fruits in the market, more supply in the market etc.

Direct marketing is the method which now prevails. In case of muskmelon, growers contact through telephone with commission agents in the wholesale markets and they send their produce after confirmation of market prices. Retailers and mashakhore (pharias) purchased the muskmelon by open auction. There are five main marketing channels i.e. commission agent, wholesaler, mashakhore (pharia), retailer and shopkeeper.

In case of winter crop, the fixed costs incurred was Rs23393 per hactere, Rs22450 per hectare as variable costs and Rs52575 per hectare as marketing costs. Whereas in case of summer crop, fixed cost was Rs15953, while Rs17758 incurred as variable costs and Rs30223 spent as marketing cost. The net returns of both growers ( winter and summer crop) are also indicated in above table that is Rs81582/- in case of winter crop and Rs 47566/- in case of summer crop.

Recommendations: Cultivation of muskmelon in the coastal area of Sindh has a great potential. In the coastal area of Sindh, there are a large number of uncultivated lands on which the muskmelon can be grown easily and there is a better net income by muskmelon growing as compare to other major crops.

Analysis has indicated that major inputs such as FYM, fertilizers, and pesticides sprays affecting muskmelon production.