This year, watermelon yields in the Kherson region are expected to be 10% higher than last year, the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Kherson Regional State Administration said.

The area of ​​melons and gourds this year remained at the level of the previous year and amounted to about 23 thousand hectares. But at the same time, the gross yield of gourds this year is forecasted more, since the rains that took place in June had a beneficial effect on the growth and development of melons and watermelons.

In 2018, manufacturers sent their products in small batches for export to Belarus, Latvia and Lithuania. Regarding this year, now there are plans for export deliveries from regional manufacturers, said Margarita Stepanova, deputy director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Kherson Regional State Administration.

According to Margarita Stepanova, the development of export of Kherson watermelon will be facilitated by the registration of its geographical indication. Right now the registration procedure is underway.

For information, a farmer from the Kherson region Irina Evtukh grows colorful watermelons in her fields. They cost twice as much, but buyers are willing to overpay for an outlandish berry and are buying it directly from the ground.