Watermelon growers in Gujarat and Rajasthan have urged the Indian government not to come under pressure from traders and relax import restrictions, warning that overseas shipments could depress prices just as domestic supplies begin reaching the market, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The warning comes ahead of the new season, with watermelon generally sown between June and August and the crop beginning to reach markets from early September.
Price fall as import rumours spread
Farmgate prices of watermelon seeds have already been hit by reports that import restrictions could be relaxed. A farmer from Bhavnagar, Gujarat, told businessline that farmgate prices fell to about ₹170 a kg from ₹245 per kg in recent weeks — a decline of roughly 31 per cent. Tulcharam Sinvar, state general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Rajasthan, said watermelon seed prices have since stabilised at around ₹200 a kg after having fallen to ₹70 a kg earlier. He attributed the recovery to stronger demand and government measures restricting cheap imports.
Sinvar warned that issuing a fresh import quota at this stage would leave farmers vulnerable to a sharp price crash when domestic supplies arrive from September. "If imports are opened in mid-August, shipments could arrive between September and November, precisely when domestic produce starts reaching the market. This will put significant pressure on prices," a farmer from Bhavnagar said.
Monsoon delay reshapes cropping plans
The delayed onset of the monsoon has prompted farmers who traditionally grow guar (cluster bean), bajra (pearl millet) and moong (green gram) to consider watermelon as their main crop this season, according to businessline. Watermelon is largely cultivated as an intercrop in several states, including Rajasthan and Gujarat. Farmers across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have expanded acreage after the Centre assured them that agricultural commodities produced abundantly in India would not be exposed to foreign competition.
The expansion is a bet on domestic demand and protected supply. But the prospect of imported seeds arriving at harvest time undermines that bet, growers argue. The government has not officially announced any relaxation in watermelon seed imports, but farmers said rumours of a possible move have already affected prices.
Domestic seed deficit drives policy push
Farmer organisations are working with the Agriculture University of Jodhpur to strengthen domestic seed production and improve availability. India requires around 60,000-70,000 tonnes of watermelon seeds annually and currently faces a deficit of 10-15 per cent, Sinvar told businessline. "The shortage is coming down every year with the active help of the university," he said.
Key figures reported by businessline:
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Farmgate watermelon seed price (recent weeks) | ₹170 per kg | Farmer from Bhavnagar, Gujarat |
| Previous farmgate watermelon seed price | ₹245 per kg | Farmer from Bhavnagar, Gujarat |
| Stabilised watermelon seed price | ₹200 per kg | Tulcharam Sinvar, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh |
| Earlier seed price low | ₹70 per kg | Tulcharam Sinvar |
| Annual domestic watermelon seed requirement | 60,000–70,000 tonnes | Tulcharam Sinvar |
| Domestic seed deficit | 10–15% | Tulcharam Sinvar |
| Daily farm labour cost | ₹750–800 | Lal Khaji, watermelon farmer, Rajasthan |
Labour costs and import competitiveness
High labour costs have made it difficult for domestic growers to compete with cheaper imports, said Lal Khaji, a watermelon farmer from Rajasthan. "Even if the work on the field does not last a full day, I have to pay around ₹750-800 a day for labour," he said. This cost disadvantage, combined with the prospect of imports arriving in September-November, is the core of the growers' concern.
Farmers demand long-term import policy
Sinvar urged the Centre to formulate a long-term policy to promote domestic watermelon seed production and ensure price stability. "The government should discontinue imports and build farmers' trust in agricultural policy and national calls for crop diversification," he said. For traders, the central risk is the overlap between a potential September-November import window and domestic market arrivals beginning in September, as described by the farmers.
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