Watermelon emojis and pictures have been widely shared in recent months, each on social media and in the course of the long protests in March, as a technique to express solidarity with Palestine. The fruit has indeed symbolized the Palestinian flag for over half a century, indicating that its image will not be a brand new phenomenon.
It first appeared after Israel’s conquest of the West Bank and Gaza within the Six-Day War and annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967. The Israeli government then deemed the general public display of the Palestinian flag an illegal and criminal act in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinians then carried sliced watermelon throughout the region to avoid the ban and as a gesture of resistance. This is because when cut open, the fruit reveals the red, black, white and green colours of the Palestinian flag.
However, long before it became an emblem of insurrection and perseverance, the fruit has long been considered an integral a part of Palestinian culture and cuisine. Watermelon has been a crop of selection amongst generations of Palestinians for hundreds of years. While we enjoy it in its pure form, it serves as a key ingredient in countless distinctive and unique treats.
A recent report by AtlasBig.com found that despite facing persistent conflicts, Palestine continues to contribute 14,244 tonnes of watermelon per yr to world production, with roughly 100 million tonnes of world production. Thus, it secured eightieth place out of 126 countries. The world’s leading producer, China, leads the best way, boasting an astonishing annual capability of 79.2 million tonnes.
In Southeast Asia, just one country took the coveted spot among the many world’s top 20 watermelon producers. Which nation do you’re thinking that that is?
Vietnam is the most important producer of watermelon in Southeast Asia, rating thirteenth on the planet when it comes to production of 1,102,657 tons per yr. This figure is then followed by Indonesia’s annual production of 480,897 tonnes per yr, rating it twenty fourth on the planet.
Laos and Malaysia reported annual yields of around 190,000 tonnes, strengthening their positions because the third and fourth largest producers within the region, respectively. Globally, Laos ranks fortieth and Malaysia forty sixth.
Thailand ranks fifth with almost 180,000 tonnes of production per yr, followed by the Philippines in sixth place, producing slightly below 144,000 tonnes per yr. Brunei has the bottom production, at 116 tonnes per yr.
However, the source doesn’t note any data on other Southeast Asian countries that weren’t mentioned within the mentioned infographic.
Source: AtlasBig.com, Vice.com, Time.com, WashingtonPost.com.
