Chile's Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, has inaugurated the watermelon season, congratulating the producers on their technification and resilience despite challenges like drought and pandemic. Watermelon occupies about 3.4% of the total vegetable area in Chile, with the majority of production in the Maule region. The mayors of Paine and Santiago have expressed the fruit's significance to the region's economy and culture. Minister Walker stressed the role of agriculture in the country's economic recovery, mentioning the sector's success in regaining jobs lost due to the pandemic.