Morocco’s Watermelon Production Drops, Slips to 20th Globally

With 462.72 million kilograms of watermelons produced in 2023 on an area of 14,582 hectares, with an average yield of 3.17 kilograms per square meter, Morocco ranks 20th in this global ranking. This is a decrease of 140.23 million kilograms compared to 2022, while the area used has increased by 324 hectares, according to data from Hortoinfo and the FAO.

China dominates this global ranking with 64 billion kilograms, or 60.82% of the total, produced on an area of 1,488,028 hectares and an average yield of 4.29 kilograms per square meter. India comes in second with 36 billion kilograms of watermelons produced on an area of 126,000 hectares, with a yield of 2.88 kilograms per square meter. It is followed by Turkey, third with 32 million kilograms obtained on an area of 64,070 hectares and an average yield of 4.91 kilograms per square meter.

Algeria and Brazil occupy the fourth and fifth places respectively with 25 billion kilograms grown on 63,258 hectares and an average yield of 3.96 kilograms per square meter for the former, and 18 billion kilograms of watermelons grown on 80,833 hectares and an average yield of 2.20 kilograms per square meter for the latter.

Spain, for its part, ranks 15th with a volume of 12 billion kilograms of watermelons, produced on an area of 21,460 hectares and an average yield of 5.45 kilograms per square meter. This is an increase of 3.94 million kilograms, notes the FAO. In 2023, a total of 105 billion kilograms of watermelons were produced worldwide, 1.9 billion kilograms more than the previous year.