Watermelon sales increase in Tamil Nadu due to early onset of summer

The sale of watermelons has increased in Tamil Nadu because of the early onset of summer. People are opting for the juicy fruit to seek respite from the scorching hot weather.

Watermelon sellers in Coimbatore are the happiest lot, as demand for the fruit is helping them to get a good price.

The price of watermelons in the wholesale market has also doubled as compared to the previous year.

As people in Coimbatore have already started to feel the heat, they are enjoying watermelons from roadside stalls as well.

Meanwhile, watermelon sellers say that due to a rise in temperature in mid-February, there is a huge demand for the fruit.

"There is a surge in the demand of watermelons as there is no rain right now. Usually the summer season begins in late March or April but this time in mid-February only they are experiencing summer season in the state. Earlier, the price of the fruit used to be between rupees seven to eight but now it has increased to rupees 10 to 15," said a watermelon seller, Thilakan.

The rising temperature and early arrival of summers this year might have increased the demand for watermelon in parts of the country, but there is a shortfall in the production for want of enough rains.