Chanthaburi farmers turn to melon during dry season

[Lite Beer]

Chanthaburi farmers turn to melon during dry season

CHANTHABURI, 21 Feb 2015 (NNT) – Rice farmers in drought-hit Chanthaburi province have found a way to survive the dry season by turning to melon cultivation which consumes less water than rice.

Farmers’ switch to melon cultivation resulted from the province’s decision to declare several districts in Chanthaburi disaster zones, which forced them to forego rice farming for fear of severe water shortage.

A rice farmer who has turned into a melon grower disclosed that melon took just 60 days to fully grow, whereas rice cultivation took as long as four moths and consumed much more water. Moreover, farmers also have no difficulty transporting their produce to markets, as merchants will come to buy the melons at their farming areas.

Although melons have yet to yield huge profits, farmers said they felt it was better than leaving their farm lands unused. The farmers added that the current climate had provided a favorable condition for the growth of melons. Nevertheless, pests and climate volatility were most worrisome factors for them.

-- NNT 2015-02-21

[soalbundy]

worrisome is also theft. You need a lot of insecticide for water melons, i grew some in my back garden without insecticide as it was for my family,didn't get one that wasn't eaten through.

[ezzra]

What melons? water melons, rock melons, cantaloupes? what cultivar? a 2 kg watermelon

is fetching 100 baht at the retail market, gone up double in the last 2 years or so,

in any case, the rock melons and the water melons are still inferior to the one grown

in the other parts of the world and the middle east in particular....

[mikebell]

Why do you need 4 moths to grow rice?

[soalbundy]

Why do you need 4 moths to grow rice?

we need 5