Malaysia's watermelon production has shown a declining trend from 2013 to 2023, decreasing from 209.6 thousand metric tons to 134.63 thousand metric tons. From 2021 to 2022, the production saw a slight decline of 2.28%, and a similar decrease occurred in 2022 to 2023 with another 2.29% drop. Over the past five years up to 2023, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) averaged at -2.14%.
Looking ahead, forecasts from 2024 to 2028 indicate a continuation of the downward trend. By 2028, the production is expected to fall to 118.18 thousand metric tons, reflecting a forecasted 5-year CAGR of -2.06% which translates to an estimated overall decrease of 9.9% over this period.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Climate change impacts and how more extreme weather patterns could further affect watermelon yields.
- Technological advancements and agritech adoption which might improve productivity.
- Market demand fluctuations, both domestically and internationally.
- Government policies or subsidies aimed at mitigating the decline in production.
