Aiming to Support 'Digital Agriculture and Satellite Technology' to Elevate Thai Farmers

The Office of Agricultural Economics is pushing digital agriculture and satellite technology to elevate Thai farmers' incomes, aiming to create food security and strengthen the country's economy. Secretary-General Peeraphan Kothong of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives revealed that Thailand is fully entering a new era of agriculture, with satellite technology and digital innovation serving as critical driving mechanisms. These technologies will help increase production efficiency, manage resources more effectively, and precisely connect farmers to markets. The transition to digital agricultural systems will not only help increase production volumes and reduce costs for farmers, but also create new economic opportunities that benefit farmers, consumers, and the country's overall competitive capabilities. Peeraphan further explained that modern technologies are now more diverse and easily accessible, including real-time weather information, precision agriculture systems, and various digital data platforms. These tools will help farmers plan cultivation appropriate to their areas, use production factors like fertilizer and water more efficiently, and produce goods that precisely match market demands. Beyond benefiting farmers, digital information systems will create transparency through traceability systems, building international confidence in the quality and safety of Thai agricultural and food products. Digital agriculture development is thus a crucial foundation for creating food security and improving farmers' long-term living standards. However, digital agricultural business growth comes with challenges that must be carefully managed, such as system continuity, cybersecurity risks, relatively high technology investments, and compliance with relevant international laws and standards.