Egyptian Farmers in Sinai Take Pride in their Production of Small, Flavourful Watermelons
(AWP) - With the summer approaching, Egyptian farmers in the Sinai Peninsula have begun harvesting their watermelon crops, which they had planted in the winter months.
The Sinai watermelon differs from watermelons cultivated elsewhere in Egypt by its smaller size and sweeter taste. Additionally, no chemicals or pesticides are deployed during its cultivation.
According to, Ahmed Nagy, a farmer in Sinai, cultivating watermelon in the coastal city of Arish begins with planting seeds from the city of Ismailia at the end of December.
They are then irrigated with salty water, giving them the superior taste and quality over watermelon irrigated with fresh water.
Nagy explained, “Here we don’t focus on the size of the watermelon. They are not large, and their weight ranges from 2, 3 or 4 kilograms. However, the watermelons here have a very sweet taste, unlike elsewhere.”
He added, “Outside Sinai they are mostly irrigated with fresh water, so do not taste like the watermelon we have in Sinai, because the water here is salty, and the saltier the water, the better the watermelon tastes.”
After harvesting, the Sinai traders and vendors set up stands and vehicles to sell their watermelon crops along highway roadsides between the cities of Arish and Sheikh Zuweid.
Arish vendors say that during the summer season they rely on their sales of cantaloupe, watermelon and a host of other fruits.
Hassan Moussa, a Sinai farm owner and fruit trader, said, “Every year, we open the stall here during the watermelon season, which starts from the beginning of May until the middle of June. This season is when we grow cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, and the [a type of] squash for those who are fasting.”