Local farmers are growing melons on around 3,000 hectares this season (down from 3,500 hectares last year), challenged by the labor shortage and drawn to grain crops by fast-rising farm gate prices.
Farmers that have decided to grow melons are planting more resilient, faster-growing hybrids, the portal said.
Higher motor fuel prices could prevent the market from being flooded with imports, while the lack of melon production in Ukraine could open markets in Poland and Germany to local growers, it added.
Agroinform said local melon prices aren't expected to fall under HUF 170-180 per kilogram in the peak season.