Now Reading: Watermelon farmers fear price crash as import rumours swirl
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Watermelon farmers fear price crash as import rumours swirl
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
The import rumour mill is spinning again, and as usual, it is the farmer who stands to lose. Instead of chasing speculative headlines, the government must clarify its policy on watermelon seed imports once and for all. A clear, long-term road map, not piecemeal bans or sudden relaxations, will build the trust that exporters and growers both need. The real test is not today’s rumour but the official notification: will it protect domestic growers or leave them guessing every season?
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
