Pune: Watermelon Prices Fall by Rs 5/kg, Muskmelon by Rs 7/kg
Pune, 5th April 2026: Unseasonal rains and reduced demand from Gulf countries have affected the sale of watermelons and muskmelons, leading to a sharp drop in prices at Pune’s wholesale fruit market in Market Yard.
Traders said that although the supply of fruits remains high, customer purchases have declined due to continuous rainfall in the region. As a result, prices have fallen significantly within a short period. According to traders Pandurang Supekar and Mauli Ambekar, watermelon prices have dropped by Rs 5 per kg and muskmelon prices by Rs 7 per kg in just four days.
The situation has raised concerns among farmers, who are struggling to recover even their production and transportation costs. Summer is usually a profitable season for these fruits, but recent weather conditions have weakened demand. Heavy rainfall on April 2 further worsened the situation, keeping many buyers away from the market.
In the wholesale market, watermelons that were earlier sold at Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg are now priced between Rs 7 and Rs 10 per kg. Similarly, muskmelons that were earlier sold for Rs 20 to Rs 22 per kg are now available at Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg.
The fruits are being supplied from nearby districts as well as Ahilyanagar, Solapur and Satara. Currently, around 50 to 60 tonnes of watermelon and about 30 tonnes of muskmelon arrive at the market every day.
“During summer, farmers usually earn good profits from selling watermelon and muskmelon. Despite good supply, unseasonal rains have reduced demand for the produce, which has caused prices to fall. Once the rains stop, demand for both fruits is expected to increase,” trader Pandurang Supekar said.
