Farmers advised to monitor market sentiment for successful watermelon cultivation this year

According to a company that exports watermelons to China’s border market, farmers should monitor market sentiment and cautiously cultivate watermelons in the 2023-24 financial year because the price of watermelons was good last year.
At the beginning of 2023 when watermelons were harvested, China border posts reopened, and farmers got handsome prices.
Therefore, during the current winter watermelon planting season, Chinese and local companies, and local farmers are preparing to grow watermelons extensively, so they need to monitor the market situation, said a trader who exports watermelons to China’s border market.
“Even if the situation is good, we can’t expect a market like last year. If we see normal market sentiment, we have to be satisfied,” he said.
The cost of planting watermelons this year can cost up to K5 million per acre, so there is a need for a good watermelon market.
Due to China’s economy, the state of being able to consume watermelon, and the rates of customs fees to be collected by China, it is difficult to guess the market price. This year, a tonne of watermelon price is likely to be around 1,500-1,800 Chinese yuan, according to the export company.
China mainly buys 70 per cent of watermelon from Myanmar.
It is said that if the melons planted in China are sold out, Chinese plantations are affected by weather and output is low, Myanmar watermelon prices can go up. — TPT