Watermelon prices crash as exports stop
Watermelon crisis
Raipur | Correspondent: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has now had a direct impact reaching as far as the fields of Chhattisgarh. With watermelon exports to the Gulf nations coming to a complete standstill, farmers in the state are being forced to sell their produce at rock-bottom prices. Due to the halt in exports and the massive stockpiles accumulating in local markets, farmers have suffered a staggering loss of approximately ₹300 crore.
During the summer season, watermelons from Chhattisgarh typically enjoyed immense demand in the Gulf countries, to which they were shipped via the Mumbai port. However, the export pipeline has ground to a halt as maritime routes have been closed off due to the ongoing conflict.
According to T. Srinivas Reddy, President of the Wholesale Vegetable Market in Raipur, the suspension of exports has led to a massive glut of watermelons in the local market. Watermelons that previously fetched a wholesale price of ₹20 to ₹25 per kilogram have now seen their prices plummet to a mere ₹7 to ₹8 per kilogram.
In the retail market as well, prices have dropped from the range of ₹40 - 50 per kilogram to just ₹15 - 20 per kilogram.
Scientists at the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University note that watermelons serve as the primary source of income for farmers residing in riverine regions such as Mahasamund, Gariaband, Raipur, and Sarangarh (in the Raigarh district).
Across the state, watermelons are cultivated across approximately 12,000 acres of land, yielding an average output of 35 to 40 tons per acre. The influx of watermelons from other states including Gujarat, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh has further exacerbated the slump in the local market, dealing a devastating blow to the farmers.
