Expensive grapes have increased the demand for melon in Central Asia

EastFruit analysts from Central Asian countries point out record high prices for melon in the region, despite the fact that there seems to be no particular reason for this. Moreover, in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan the summer weather is hot, so there are still melons of even summer varieties in the fields. “Autumn melons are now in trend, but the Mirzochul melon variety, which is popularly called “Torpedo,” now remains the queen of the table, as it symbolizes summer. And it is still available in the market. The specificity of this melon is that it is not stored for a long time. That’s why it is now retailing for $1 per kg, while winter melon can be bought for more than three times cheaper,” says Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov, international consultant to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). If you look at the average wholesale prices for melon per 1 kg, you can note that in both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan they are at record levels. In Tajikistan, the average wholesale price is 60% ...