Farmers in Korat use 17 rai of rice fields to grow drip-irrigated watermelons for the hot season. The crop matures quickly, allowing harvest and sales by size, generating income in the hundreds of thousands per planting cycle.
On 2 March 2026 GMT+7, reporters visited the roadside between Phimai and Dong Yai, Dong Yai Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, to speak with Mr. Sompong Thianchai, 50, a member of the Dong Yai Subdistrict Administrative Organization council, after he converted rice fields to watermelon cultivation.
Mr. Sompong explained that he used 17 rai of rice fields to grow drip-irrigated watermelon, alternating with the rainy season rice crop. His initial investment was about 80,000 baht for the 17 rai and drip irrigation setup. The watermelons take only 45-50 days to grow before harvest and sale. They are sold at 20-50 baht each depending on size, generating about 120,000 baht per planting cycle. He said watermelon cultivation takes less time and water than rice farming, providing better supplemental income for his family.
Mr. Sompong added that during the hot season, watermelon sales are especially good. He sets up roadside stands to sell his homegrown watermelons, attracting many customers who stop by to buy and enjoy them, generating solid income.
