Contrary to a long-term trend, prices for watermelon in the first half of August 2022 in Moldova did not decrease, but increased by 20-25%, on average from 4 to 5 MDL/kg ($0.21-26/kg) in wholesale trade. The price in chain retail doubles; in market and bazaar retail, the gap from the average wholesale price is 25-35%. In mid-August this year, watermelons in bulk are sold 15-20% more expensive than in dry 2020. However, the level of average wholesale prices in August 2020 was relatively high, but stable for three weeks and fell for a short period in early September.
The forecast for high watermelon prices in August-September 2022 is based on three preconditions. The main one is the reduction of areas planted with watermelon by 45-50% (according to expert estimates, from 1 500 ha in 2021 to 750 ha in 2022).
Sellers of agricultural inputs note that demand for watermelon seeds, a non-essential product, fell almost to zero in March – a month when 40-45% of seeds for sowing are usually sold, due to extremely disturbing news from neighboring Ukraine.
Source: east-fruit.com