Major Watermelon Producer in Romania Expands Operations With Pipelife’s Drip Irrigation Solutions

The agricultural cooperative Gheorghe Doja, nestled in Ialomita County, is known for its first-class watermelons across Romania and beyond. Yet, cultivating the moisture-loving crop is far from straightforward and requires both know-how and quality farming equipment. Having witnessed the precision and reliability of Pipelife’s drip irrigation systems in practice, the cooperative now proudly offers these high-quality solutions to more than 200 local farmers.

_{From Seeds to Shelves}

Today, the agricultural cooperative Gheorghe Doja is one of the leading watermelon producers and wholesalers in Ialomita County, Romania. The cooperative planted 125 hectares of melons this season alone, aiming to further increase the farmed area by 10-15% in 2024. 

Ionel Carstoiu, one of the co-founders of Gheorghe Doja, reveals that the idea of the cooperative was born 11 years ago. In 2023, several young Romanians, passionate about watermelon cultivation and the region’s rich farming traditions, decided to combine their expertise and make way for their production in the country’s supermarket chains. 

Having achieved reliable yields of around 60 tons per hectare, Gheorghe Doja has now met and exceeded the initial goal — their mouthwatering melons can be bought not only across Romania but are also exported to Europe and the UAE.  

The cooperative is not keeping its success recipes behind closed doors but shares them with other farmers in the region. Besides providing consultations and advice, Gheorghe Doja sells locally tried-and-tested farming equipment, including irrigation and fertigation systems. 

_{Successful Farming Amidst Changing Climate}

While the sandy yet fertile soils of Ialomita County are perfect for watermelon farming, southern Romania’s increasingly dry climate is less so. For optimal development, the crop requires 400 to 600 mm of rainfall during the growth period — the water amount that would be impossible to achieve without irrigation. 

Among melon farmers, precision irrigation is the most widely used method, saving precious water resources and ensuring that each plant receives the right amount of water and nutrients. 

“Water is essential; it’s the essence of life,” Carstoiu emphasizes, adding that melon growers often focus too much on fertilizers, overlooking the importance of an optimal water regime in achieving high yields.  

“As a cooperative, we use around one million linear feet (304,800 meters) of drip lines per year, and we sell another two million,” he explains.

_{Beginning of a New Partnership}

In Romania, the watermelon irrigation season starts in April and continues for 5-6 months until the last melon has been harvested. Around 20-25 drip lines are laid across each hectare of land. Gheorghe Doja came across Pipelife’s precision irrigation solutions three years ago.

“I was contacted by a Pipelife representative,” Carstoiu recalls. “We experimented, we tested [the products] first. And the next couple of years, we got pretty consistent yields — to say the least.”

Impressed by both the product quality and Pipelife’s customer service, Gheorghe Doja started offering Pipelife’s flat drip line to the cooperative’s customers, and the product was very well received.  

Many farmers in Romania appreciate the opportunity to purchase farming equipment on loan, paying back the remaining sum after the harvest. Flexible payment conditions and the individual approach further cemented the newly formed partnership.

_{Growing Together}

This year, Gheorghe Doja has expanded its stock with Pipelife’s premium drip tape and PVC lay flat hose, offering even more choice and flexibility to Ialomita’s farmers. The decision was made taking into account the positive customer feedback and the cooperative’s own continued farming success. 

“The last couple of years have worked out pretty well,” Carstoiu sums up. “We hope to keep growing quantitively and continue this collaboration in the future.”