The first China (Hainan) International Watermelon and Melon Industry Development Congress opened on Jan 6 in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, during which nearly 500 domestic and international high-quality watermelon and melon varieties as well as more than 200 types of germplasm resources were displayed.
The congress held many thematic activities, including the International Watermelon and Melon Industry Development Forum, a field variety display, a resource garden resource planting display, an evaluation and selection activity, an agricultural technology exhibition, and a "melon eating conference".
China is the world's number one producer of melons, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the world's total production, and the world's number one consumer of melons, with an annual per capita consumption amount of 9.64 kilograms. Due to Hainan province's tropical climate, watermelon and melon planting has become one of the prime industries for Hainan farmers to earn profitable incomes.
The congress was organized by the China National Seed Trade Association in conjunction with the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration. It aims to accelerate the construction of the national seed breeding base in Hainan and build a domestic and foreign exchange and trading cooperation platform.
