White Kanivellari hit in Vishu market

Thrissur: Kanivellari is a symbol of prosperity and an indispensable ingredient of vishukkani is traditionally golden yellow in colour.  But this year, a heap of pure white Kanivellari is set to hit the market from Thrissur for this year's Vishu. Vivekanandan  from Chemmanthitta  in Thrissur District is a rural  farmer who has been growing  kanivellari, known as golden melon in common English, for the past twenty five years.

Four years ago his field attracted the attention on account of the globus shaped golden yellow fruits.  This time around majority of his crop has come up with oblong milky white fruits, which has surprised Vivekanandan as well. The melons harvested from Vivekanandan’s field is  always in high demand for Vishu on account of  excellent shape and Colour. There are variations in combination of colour and shape as well, which attracted the attention of agricultural scientists as well. Vivekanandan’s explanation for the specialities of his crop is very simple.

“I have been growing different types of cucumber together because of my love towards them. Though I stopped this habit fifteen years ago, the Kanivellari fruits in my field have begun to show peculiar characteristics which I noted only when others mentioned it. I haven’t done anything special though,”  he said. Scientists of Kerala Agriculture University feels that what Vivekanandan has unintentionally achieved can be a new line of  common melon through persistent cross pollination. They are pursuing further analysis by growing the seeds from Vivekanandan’s  field in different plots simultaneously with other varieties of melons.  Vivekanandan can be  contacted at 9544330912.