Watermelon comes at the forefront of the favorite fruits in many areas of Lahj Governorate (southern Yemen), after many farmers were guided to grow it in an attempt to improve income, especially during the month of Ramadan, which witnesses the prosperity of the watermelon market, in addition to being a productive opportunity for investment and income generating product, especially for teachers, unlike other months.

In the Al-Sarih area, administratively affiliated to the Mudaraba district in Lahj Governorate, there is the farm of Abdu Essa Al-Hirani, a teacher at the 22nd of May School, who has been growing melons for the past four years, which proved to be worthy according to the advice of some of his colleagues.

The new business brought him an adequate income and economic profits that compensated him for his meager salary, which he receives from the Ministry of Education. In fact, his minor salary does not meet his basic living needs, in light of rising inflation, and salaries that have not increased, as the internationally recognized government is paying to public employees in the areas under its control since the year 2017.

Abdu Essa finished the process of selling his melons from his farm, which he began its plantation last January, in order to market it in Ramadan, by selling it to his top customer, a "commercial agent", who buys most of the quantity produced in his field, for an amount of 5 million riyals.

Such areas in Lahj governorate attract dozens of customers and commercial agents, as there are plenty of watermelon farms in the area, to be exported to the markets of Aden and other neighboring governorates.

Despite the diversity and expansion of watermelon farms in the areas of Sobeeha in Lahj, the intensity of marketing watermelon fruit was not affected during the month of Ramadan, as vendors and many suppliers spread in popular markets and villages to sell this popular fruit, although farmers believe that the increase in producers contribute to a significant decline in the watermelon prices.

Moreover, dealers in the local markets believe that the prices of watermelons are very accessible and cheap, due to the abundance of supply, which provided many options for citizens, as prices range between 1000 and 2000 riyals per watermelon, according to its weight.

Taking advantage of alternative income opportunities

Abdu Essa is satisfied with the profits he makes from selling the watermelon product, which has greatly contributed over the past years to improving his living conditions. Although he believes that the cultivation, irrigation and caring process of such a fruit, "watermelon", has become very expensive due to the high prices of seeds and fertilizers that were purchased in Saudi riyals, as one quantity costs about one million and 500 thousand riyals.

In addition, farmers suffer from high fuel prices, especially for farmers who do not have a solar system to generate power, as the price per gallon of 20 liters exceeds 19,000 riyals, while he spends an amount of 200,000 riyals which is not sufficient to buy it and use it to irrigate the land for one week.

On the other hand, Shukri Hawash, a teacher, believes that the best types of watermelon are grown in their area among all farms of Al-Sobeeha, due to the availability of large and spacious farms, and their location in the vicinity of "Wadi Abel", which flows from the neighboring areas of Taiz Governorate, and contributes to the fertility of the irrigated land.

Shukri reported that switching to watermelon cultivation was good business for him, as a teacher, and an opportunity to obtain a better income due to the limited salaries, in addition to the lack of alternative chances but to wait until Ramadan, in order to achieve the highest levels of profits from selling this product that is greatly consumed in this fasting month to compensate for the thirst during fasting.

Marketing Quality

Despite the diversity and expansion of watermelon farms in the areas of Sobeeha in Lahj, the intensity of marketing of the fruit produced during the month of Ramadan was not affected; vendors and many suppliers spread in popular markets and villages to sell them, although farmers believe that the increase in the number of producers contributed to a significant drop in watermelon prices.

Abdulbaset Al-Mahboob, a watermelon seller, praises his merchandise, which he brings from the farms of the "Al-Sarih" area, which he believes is distinguished from the varieties produced by other farms in terms of its quality and taste due to the fertility of the land in which it is grown and the care provided for this seasonal crop.

During the days of Ramadan, Al-Mahboob wanders around every evening with his crop of "watermelon" fruit, and sells it in a popular market in Lahj Governorate, noting that the quantity he sells reaches about 1,000 grains every three days. However, there remain some significant risks that threat them as farmers with the rains and the torrential rains and floods that lead to flooding and washing away their fields, and destroying the "watermelon" crop.