Melon production in Turkmenistan contributes to the national economy. It has been important to agricultural production in the country for centuries and in the Middle Ages was praised as a "miracle" crop.[1] In 1992 some 26,069 hectares were under cultivation.[2] Turkmenistan has hosted an annual Melon Day since 1994 to celebrate Melon culture in the country.[1] Held in the autumn, melons "are brought into Ashgabad by soldiers and the people can eat as many melons as they like."[3] Production in the country has been affected by pests such as the whitefly.
References
edit- ^ a b "Turkmen leader inspires devotion to melon". BBC. 11 August 2003.
- ^ "Turkmenistan:COUNTRY REPORT TO THE FAO INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCE" (PDF). FAO. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ Backman, Michael (17 September 2005). Inside Knowledge: Streetwise in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-4039-4237-1. Retrieved 23 April 2012.