W29: Melon Update

In W29 in the melon landscape, the recent heat waves in San Gavino, Italy, have severely impacted melon and watermelon crops, causing irreparable damage to fruits that are still raw, preventing them from ripening. Some farmers experienced significant losses, affecting 90% of the production of these fruits. The plants collapsed, could not complete the ripening process, and were almost unharvestable. The situation has prompted a call for the region to declare a state of calamity to address the widespread losses experienced by farmers in Southern Sardinia.

The Chungcheong region of South Korea, known as the largest producer of melons and watermelons, has experienced significant damage due to heavy rains, raising concerns about potential supply and demand setbacks in the future. The recent torrential rains in Chungcheongnam-do, covering an area of 7.16 thousand hectares (ha), has affected nearly 30% of the total production of melons and watermelons in the country. Farmers in the region face challenges in supplying fruits due to flooding and damage to their farms. As a result, the market import volume has sharply decreased, leading to a significant price increase.