Government banned the import of watermelon seeds?

25-Jun-2025 10:40 AM

(But no official notification has been issued yet)

New Delhi. There is growing speculation in the market that the Central Government has banned the import of watermelon seeds in order to protect the interests of domestic seed producers, following a significant rise in supply and availability in the domestic sector.

However, no official notification has been released by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) confirming such a ban.

According to data from the Union Commerce Ministry, the import of watermelon seeds in the financial year 2024–25 (April–March) surged to 83,812 tonnes, more than double the average annual import of 40,697 tonnes over the previous three years. This sharp increase has raised concerns among local producers.

It is believed that the decision to restrict imports may have been influenced by a request from Laghu Udyog Bharati, an organization working to protect the interests of micro and small enterprises in India.

Available figures show that in 2021–22, India imported 20,355 tonnes of watermelon seeds (commonly known as magaj), which rose sharply to 65,989 tonnes in 2022–23. Imports then declined to 35,749 tonnes in 2023–24.

The estimated annual demand in the domestic market is around 60–65 thousand tonnes, while domestic production stands at approximately 40 thousand tonnes.

This creates a need for 20–25 thousand tonnes of imports, but when imports exceed this requirement, domestic producers start facing difficulties.

Currently, watermelon seed imports are allowed under the "actual user" condition, requiring a valid manufacturer’s license from FSSAI and registration under the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System. Imported seeds are typically 15–20 percent cheaper than locally produced ones, contributing to the spike in imports.

Watermelon is mainly cultivated in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Globally, major exporters of watermelon seeds include China, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Algeria, the USA, Russia, Egypt, and Mexico.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the government, and the trade is awaiting a formal notification from the DGFT regarding the import status of watermelon seeds.