Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

5.5. Melons, watermelons value chain analyses
Production of Melons and Watermelons
Melons and watermelons production is popular among Tajik farmers, especially
when grown on irrigated lands and land that has been fallowed. Watermelons 14 will
mature 10 to 15 days earlier when grown on fallowed fields compared to fields which
have been continually used for watermelon production. Watermelons reach maturity in
70 to 90 days depending on variety planted, with planting beginning late March.
Hectares of watermelon grown have remained steady, between 11,500 and 20,950
hectares. The last 2 years the production of watermelons rapidly grown, when from
1991 to 2007 during 17 years has remained stable. The reason of growing the area of
production became access to quality seeds and handling production and crop protection
of melons, which was forgotten during decade due to disease.
Table 25. Hectares of Melons, Watermelons and Gourds Grown in Tajikistan
2007 2008 2009 2010
In Tajikistan total 11118 11570 19313 20951
GBAO 16 18 17 16
Sughd 1953 2175 4024 4522
Khatlon 7962 8304 13932 15234
DNJ 1187 1073 1340 1179
Source: State Statistic Agency of Tajikistan
Table 26. Total Production of Melons, Watermelons and Gourds in Tajikistan (thousand tones)
2007 2008 2009 2010
In Tajikistan total 254,2 285,3 424,6 482,4
GBAO 0,2 0,3 0,2 0,2
Sughd 35,0 37,4 55,4 63,0
Khatlon 212,0 240,3 360,5 409,9
DNJ 7,0 7,3 8,4 9,3
Source: State Statistic Agency of Tajikistan
Although the area under melon cultivation has increased significantly total production
has increased to 482400 tons in 2010 from to 285,000 tonnes in 2008. Watermelons
constitute the largest portion of the total and are increasing while production of other
melons is decreasing. Table 26 shows that production of melons and watermelons in
Khatlon Region in 2010 was more than 409,900 tonnes, 6.5 times more than the
production of melon, watermelon and gourds in Sughd Region. Khatlon had 72,7% of
the land devoted to melon culture (15,234 hectares) compared to 21,5% for Sughd
Region and 5,6% for DNJ (Table 25).
14 Here and after I will use the watermelons, but it is also reflect melons too.
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