Watermelon farming can sweeten the life of farmers. This is happening in Thiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu. Precision farming, drip irrigation system and improved varieties help farmers to attain economic gain in this district. They are getting almost seven times of what they invested in cultivation practices. One such farmer is Muruga Perumal of village Veppurchekkadi, Thandarampathu( T.K.), Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

   He cultivated watermelon in 2.2 hectares of his land through precision farming drip irrigation system. He used Pukeeza variety in one hectare of land and Apoorva variety in the remaining 1.2 hectare of land. He ploughed the field four times and before last ploughing he applied well decomposed farm yard manure at the rate of 25 tonnes /ha. Then, he applied 300 kg of D.A.P. and 150 kg of Potash as a basal dose.

   After levelling the land, he formed raised beds of 1.5 m width at an interval of 60....