town, northeastern Thailand. It is a highway junction and is located near the Chi River. The surrounding area is densely settled, hilly, and poor. Between 1960 and 1970 it lost population through out-migration. Its agriculture (rice, corn 【maize】, beans, tobacco, and cotton) is less productive than in other parts of Thailand. Freshwater fishing is important, however. Pop. (1983 est.) town, 32,502.