Watermelons are one of the top agricultural exports except rice from Savannakhet province to Vietnam this dry season, according to provincial authorities.
About 30 tonnes of the fruit were exported from the province last month, said Deputy Head of the provincial Industry and Commerce Department's Import and Export Management Section, Mr Khamsa Latthavongsa.
He said provincial farmers cultivate a wide variety of fruit and vegetables but watermelon was the first fruit crop to be approved for export by officials from the section.
Last dry season the province exported 260 tonnes of watermelons to Vietnam.
Other commercial crops, such as sweetcorn and bananas, are also exported to neighbouring countries but watermelons are the number one agricultural export, said Mr Khamsa.
Farmers in the province also sell their watermelons to vendors in Vientiane markets.
This dry season the provincial authorities encouraged farmers to plant 950 hectares of watermelons, but they planted 1,255 hectares, according to a report from the provincial agriculture section.
Last month prices for watermelons exported to Vietnam ranged from 2,000 kip to 7,000 kip per kg, depending on quality.
Mr Khamsa said as export demand grows so does the number of farmers cultivating crops for sale to other countries.
He said despite the fact that farmers in the province produce a wide range of crops, produce such as tomatoes, chillies and eggplants are still illegally imported from neighbouring countries.
Customs officers are working hard to crack down on illegal imports from neighbouring countries, especially Thailand, in an effort to help local farmers earn more and boost their living conditions.
