Watermelon prices drop to record lows

In the countries of Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, the price of watermelon has reached an unprecedented low. This was reported by the "East Fruit" project.

It is noted that the price of watermelon at market stalls in Uzbekistan is 8 cents per kilogram. Falling prices are a primary reason for the lack of demand for watermelon in Uzbekistan. Specifically, Uzbekistan has been exporting watermelons to Russia. However, the domestic price of the product has now decreased, leading to a drop in demand for Uzbek watermelons.

"The export of watermelons from Uzbekistan to Eastern Europe and the European Union has slowed down this season. This is partly because Ukrainian farmers have grown a surplus of watermelons even before the mass harvest season began, resulting in a significant drop in prices.

Furthermore, it is more economical for European Union countries to purchase inexpensive watermelons from Ukraine rather than transport them from Uzbekistan," says Andriy Yarmak, an economist in the investment department of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Bakhtiyor Abduvahidov, an international expert on the fruit and vegetable business, noted that the situation is similar in Tajikistan.

"Farmers are giving away small watermelons for free, while larger watermelons can still be sold at some price," says the expert.