Examples of farmers growing "hydroponic vegetables" to combat drought, including salad greens and mint, harvesting year-round. These crops are in demand in the market and generate monthly incomes in the tens of thousands of baht.
On 16 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a reporter reported that a local resident, Mr. Thitisak Sawat Amnuaychok, 38, from Ban Toey, Krabueang Yai Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, has found a way to generate household income by growing hydroponic vegetables in foam boxes on the vacant land in front of his house. This method has been very successful, supplementing household income by tens of thousands of baht per month for more than four years. The response has been positive, and it is especially suitable for cultivation during drought seasons and the current era of high fuel prices.
Mr. Thitisak revealed that previously he experimented with growing hydroponic vegetables for his own consumption because he enjoys eating salad. At that time, a teacher came to train him, and he further researched on YouTube, experimenting with hydroponic systems using foam boxes until successful. He had fresh hydroponic vegetables at home without needing to buy elsewhere and spend on travel. Any surplus he would share with neighbors.
Eventually, when people asked to buy the vegetables, he saw an opportunity to create a career, so he invested seriously in growing for sale. With more knowledge and techniques, he purchased equipment to build a small hydroponic greenhouse using one rai of vacant land in front of his house. His initial investment in the greenhouse and hydroponic equipment was only 50,000 baht. After 35-40 days of planting, he could harvest and sell the produce. He has continued this for about four years. Currently, hydroponic vegetables are very popular as pesticide-free produce rich in essential vitamins. His crops include salad greens such as red oak, green oak, red coral, frisée, and green cos, sold at 100 baht per kilogram. Monthly income averages between 15,000 and 20,000 baht. This career path is good because it avoids commuting, saving fuel costs, and the plants use less water than soil cultivation, making it ideal for drought seasons.
Similarly, Ms. Chanida Changkwian, a 49-year-old former professional nurse from Ban Nong Chot, Village No. 13, Non Daeng Subdistrict, Non Daeng District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, decided to leave her stable government job to become a full-time farmer. She converted one rai of vacant land in front of her house into a hydroponic mint greenhouse using foam boxes, which now generates substantial income.
Ms. Chanida explained that her interest in agriculture led her to quit nursing and start anew. She studied hydroponic vegetable cultivation online before gathering initial capital of about 50,000 baht to build the greenhouse and buy foam box equipment. She chose to grow "mint" because it is easy to cultivate and highly demanded in the market. Using a still-water hydroponic system, it takes only 25-30 days before harvest and sale.
Hydroponic mint is in demand because it is clean, free from dirt that typically contaminates leaves when grown in soil. This makes market vendors in Non Daeng District place many advance orders. The mint is sold at 10 baht per bundle, generating average daily income of up to 1,500 baht. Importantly, it can be grown and harvested throughout the year.
This represents a successful example of courageously changing careers to become a new-generation farmer relying on technology, achieving sustainable stability in their hometown.