# Watermelon farmers fear price crash as import rumours swirl 2026-08-09T18:02:01+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Watermelon growers in Rajasthan and Gujarat have urged the government not to relax import restrictions, fearing a sharp price crash as summer supplies reach markets. Rumours of a possible import relaxation have already pulled down farmgate prices of watermelon seeds from ₹245 to ₹170 per kg in recent weeks. Farmers warn that if imports open in mid-August, shipments arriving between September and November will coincide with peak domestic harvest, crashing prices further. Tulcharam Sinvar, state general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Rajasthan, said farmers expanded acreage this year after the Centre assured them of protection from foreign competition. He noted that watermelon cultivation is rising as monsoon delays push growers away from traditional crops like guar, bajra and moong. India faces a 10-15 per cent annual seed deficit, but farmer organisations are working with the Agriculture University of Jodhpur to boost domestic production. ## Coverage - thehindubusinessline.com Tags: Farmers, Gujarat, imports, price crash, Rajasthan, watermelon Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/watermelon-farmers-fear-price-crash-as-import-rumours-swirl/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/watermelon-farmers-fear-price-crash-as-import-rumours-swirl/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.