Kumundhoo watermelon farms badly vandalized

HDh. Kumundhoo Council reports that two watermelon farms on the island have been badly vandalized.

Speaking with Sun, Kumundhoo Council member Ali Gasim said the farms are believed to have been vandalized in the early hours of Monday morning, adding the vandalism was noticed by farmers at approximately 6:00am in the morning.

Gasim noted that the vandalism has been reported to Maldives Police Service.

According to Gasim, all watermelons produced in plots owned by two farmers have been smashed to pieces. Apart from the watermelons, pesticides and other equipment used by farmers have also been vandalized.

Although other crops like cucumbers and melons are also produced in these two farms, watermelons were the most badly damaged in the vandalism attack. Qasim detailed that two wheelbarrows of watermelons had to be thrown from plots.

Gasim, citing vandalism of farmland has previously been recorded in the island, said the issue has become more prominent in more recent times. In this regard, he detailed that some other farms were vandalized some time back.

He expressed concern over the failure to identify the culprits behind the repeated vandalism attacks despite filing police complaints each time.

Kumundhoo is an agricultural island that produces various types of crops.