Agribusiness of Watermelon Farming in Rambutan Village, Rambutan District, Banyuasin Regency

This study aims to 1). To determine the income of watermelon farmers in one planting season. 2). To determine the marketing system and marketing costs of watermelon so that they can determine effective marketing strategies. 3). To determine the obstacles faced by farmers such as: watermelon cultivation, market conditions, demand, and watermelon prices in the market. This study was conducted in Rambutan Village, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province. This research was conducted from December 2024 to January 2025. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that: Based on the results of the analysis of watermelon farming income conducted by Mr. Budi Aziz, in one harvest period the total income reached Rp300,000,000.00 with a watermelon production of 60,000 kg. The total cost incurred was Rp153,482,333.33, so the income was Rp146,517,667.67. The results of marketing efficiency of watermelon farming in Mr. Budi Aziz that channel I has no efficiency (0%,) while channel II achieves an efficiency of 15.38% and channel III shows the highest efficiency of 20.00%, even though it involves more intermediaries. Although all channels have an efficiency level below 50%, channel I is still considered the most efficient among the three because there are no intermediary costs. Problems affecting the income of watermelon farmers in Rambutan Village include a reliance on seed quality. Many farmers struggle to find high-quality seeds that are resistant to pests and diseases, resulting in suboptimal yields. Furthermore, a lack of knowledge about proper cultivation techniques, such as plant spacing and proper nutrition, often results in underdeveloped plants.