China

Yes, thousands of large, ripe watermelons almost ready for market have been exploding in China’s farmlands. China’s Central Television reckons some farmers have been overspraying crops with a growth promoter in the hope they could get the melons to market earlier than their competitors. Another possibility is the use of special seeds from Japan. Of 20 farmers in Jiangsu Province who planted seeds from Japan, 10 have so far had their melons explode. But ‘exploding melon syndrome’ (my name for this phenomeon) has also affected others who used no chemicals (not even gunpowder )

Farmer Liu Mingsuo told Xinhua that more than two-thirds of his crop had blown up.

He said he had used chemicals to boost their growth on 6 May, and the following day more than 180 melons exploded. Mr Liu was reported to be the only farmer from the 10 households who used chemicals.

 

Wang Dehong, who has been farming watermelons for 20 years, couldn't understand why his fruit also exploded as he had not used any chemicals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13421374

Now, if the farmers could only control the timing of the explosions, might 'exploding melon syndrome' be exportable? Surely Al Qaeda could be a big new buyer?