TANZANIA – The price of watermelon has fallen by nearly 50% in the past six months due to continuous rainfall, which has reduced demand for the fruit.

The decrease in watermelon prices is directly linked to the recent rains. Cold weather typically reduces the demand for watermelons, as people seek the fruit less to quench their thirst compared to the hot season.

Conversely, the supply of watermelons has also dropped because the fruit requires limited water to grow, performing poorly during wet conditions.

A survey conducted at the Veterinary Market yesterday highlighted the significant drop in prices. The price of a large watermelon has decreased from 14,000 Tanzanian shillings in September to 6,000 shillings this past Sunday.

“Watermelons do not nNeed heavy rains, and ever since the start of the El Nino rains last year, business has dropped, and demand has been lowered in comparison to the dry season in last September,” said Mr. Omary Mbwana, Vice Chairperson of the Veterinary Market.

Despite the reduced supply and lower prices, the income of watermelon traders has also declined. The market now receives between 10 and 14 semi-trailer trucks of watermelons daily, each carrying 28 to 30 tonnes.

This is down from the 11 to 18 trucks per day during the dry season. The Veterinary Market is the largest watermelon marketplace in the country, sourcing fruit from regions such as Coast, Morogoro, Shinyanga, Tabora, Mwanza, and Mbeya, as well as neighboring Kenya.

Watermelons at the market are categorized into four grades based on their size. The highest grade sells for 7,000 shillings each, while the second grade goes for around 5,000 shillings.

The third grade sells for between 3,000 and 2,000 shillings, and the lowest grade fetches 2,000 shillings each. Mr. Salehe Mkoimoto, a watermelon trader known as Mzee Moto, explained that the market’s supply patterns vary throughout the year.

From September to May, the market receives watermelons primarily from the Lake Zone, Tabora, and Mbeya. From June to August, the supply shifts to the Coastal Region. He noted that watermelons rely heavily on irrigation, which means they do not have fixed growing seasons.

According to FAOSTAT, watermelon production in Tanzania reached 37.5 kilotonnes (kt) in 2022, representing a 0.935% increase from the previous year. Tanzania’s watermelon production has seen significant fluctuations over the years, hitting an all-time high of 44.7 kt in 2014 and a low of 2.20 kt in 1992.

The average annual growth rate for watermelon production in Tanzania has been about 10.20% from 1973 to 2022.

In related news, Tanzania’s horticultural industry has received a boost through a partnership between TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA).

Supported by a USD 2.1 million grant, this partnership marks the start of Phase II of a project aimed at improving the industry’s access to regional and international markets.

The three-year project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Norway, and Ireland. It focuses on enhancing market access and empowering local farmers while addressing challenges such as logistical limitations and climate change.

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