On the banks of the Danube, a family farm is growing more melons than ever, thanks to a new way of using water.

This comes despite farmers grappling with increasingly severe drought as climate change cuts crop yields and reduces groundwater levels, with some considering relocating or alternative employment.

Roszik Farms in the village of Sukosd has been harvesting melons for nearly 30 years. But this season, owner Tamas Roszik says the change is underground.

"We grow melons on 75 hectares," Roszik said. "In the last two years, we've managed to double our production. Right now, we're getting between 35 and 45 tons per hectare."

The boost comes from a Hungarian invention called the Vizion system. The device treats irrigation water before it reaches the plants.

"This water treatment system strengthens the polarity of the water — that's the natural charge that helps water bind to nutrients," said inventor Gábor Bagyánszky. "When the polarity is stronger, plants can absorb both water and nutrients more easily."

The system also monitors the soil. Sensors measure moisture and temperature. Weather stations track rainfall, sunlight and wind.

"These two sensors show the farmer one hour before to start the irrigation how much water is in the soil and how much the plant needs," said co-founder Marton Szep. "When you put all these systems together it helps them to be more climate friendly and not waste water."

The data flows to an app that shows farmers when to irrigate and when to hold back. That has been key for Roszik, whose melons can need up to two liters of water a day in summer heat.

The system also helps crops survive heat waves and dry spells.

"There were some farmers who were experiencing very stressful times for the plants, but with the system, they found that they were still getting the same yield as before," said Gergely Toro, CEO of Creatiger and co-founder of the Vizion system. "So somehow their immune system was strong enough to provide the same amount of fruit or vegetables."

For Roszik, the payoff is more than numbers.

"The melons taste a little bit better, they have longer shelf life, and the plants make better use of what we give them," he said.

The Vizion system is still new. But farmers say it is already changing how they think about water.