Rise in watermelon seeds due to decline in imports from Sudan and increase in domestic demand

New Delhi| Due to shortage of spot goods and all-round demand, there is a strong rise in the prices of Magaj watermelon (watermelon seeds) these days. In Jaipur Mandi, Magaj watermelon has jumped by Rs 100 in a span of one month and is currently being sold in bulk around Rs 525 per kg. Mukesh Aggarwal of Dinanath’s Gali-based firm Maliram Dinesh Kumar said that since the beginning of the current financial year, there has been negligible import of  watermelon seeds from the African country Sudan into India, while its stock is also left in small quantities at the domestic level.

Aggarwal said that the sowing area and productivity of watermelon seeds is decreasing in important producing states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The hybrid variety has started being cultivated more, in which there are less seeds. By 31 March 2024, due to import of watermelon seeds in large quantities from some other countries including Sudan, its supply and availability had increased domestically and prices had also softened. Its prices had come down to around Rs 400 per kg. But now due to increase in demand its prices have started rising. As far as native watermelon seeds is concerned, last year its price reached a high of Rs 800 per kg. Since goods are not coming from Sudan these days, stockists are busy making huge purchases of watermelon seeds .

According to experts, another reason for the rise is that these days the prices of cashew contingent have crossed Rs 800 per kg. Therefore, the demand of those making gravy and cashew katli and buying of restaurant owners for making gravy is continuously increasing. Therefore, considering all the above reasons, it can be said that soon the price of watermelon seeeds can rise to Rs 650 per kg.