WATERMELON CROPIN PAKISTAN: Watermelon crop is a drought tolerant crop, not only grown in irrigated zones but also in arid zones of th all provinces of Pakistan. It is cultivated in Pakistan from early April to mid June. Pakistan ranks is 30 in watermelon production and its share is only 0.3 percent in the global production. In Pakistan it is grown in the interior areas of Province Punjab and Sindh. In terms of production, Punjab ranks first, Balochistan second, Sindh third and fourth KPK having share of 55.87%, 21.29%, 10.29% and 11.84% respectively. In Punjab Province, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, D.G. Khan, R.Y. Khan, Shaikhupura, Multan, Vehari and Bahawalnagar are the major growing districts.
Uses: Entire watermelon is an edible fruit, even its rind. In places like China, the watermelon is stir-fried, stewed and often pickled like a vegetable. Pickled watermelon rind is very popular in Russia. Watermelon, fruit is reffered by botanists as a peep or a berry which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy centre (mesocarp and endocarp). Watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon although not in the genus Cucumis has a smooth exterior rind (green, yellow and sometimes white) and a juicy, sweet interior frequently used to make a variety of salads, most notably fruit salad.