Uthai Thani: Uthai Thani farmers have adjusted their strategy to plant fresh soybean pods, a short-lived plant, in alternation with traditional field crops, resulting in high yields and hundreds of thousands of baht in income.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narong Santhiyothin, 41 years old, a member of the large-scale fresh soybean farmer group in Uthai Thani Province, showcased the harvest of the last batch of the year, which yielded very satisfactory results. Mr. Narong explained that he had previously grown animal feed corn, but due to unsatisfactory yields, he sought alternative field crops and decided to plant fresh soybeans over an area of 40 rai.
Fresh soybean pods are known for their high yield and short harvest period, allowing them to be harvested and sold within 65-68 days. Additionally, this crop benefits the soil by improving and maintaining its quality.
The cultivation technique employed by the farmers involves planting without raising ridges, utilizing an underground water source, and employing a solar cell-powered drip irrigation system. In the initial planting phase, the crop is watered every two days for four hours to maintain soil moisture. As the soybeans mature, watering is reduced to 2-3 hours, and fertilizers are applied to foster growth.
For harvesting, the farmers use machinery instead of manual labor, achieving a yield of up to 1.7 tons per rai, which surpasses the standard yield of 1.2 tons per rai. A company purchases the crop at a guaranteed price of 19 baht per kilogram. After deducting expenses, the farmers earn a profit exceeding 400,000 baht per planting cycle.