Land Development Department Launches 4 Emergency Measures to Promote Organic Fertilizer and Cut Farming Costs Amid Fertilizer Crisis
Thailand's Land Development Department is rolling out four emergency measures to help farmers reduce chemical fertilizer costs by promoting organic alternatives and soil analysis. The initiative aims to cut chemical fertilizer use by nearly
The Land Development Department is implementing urgent measures under Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry policy to mitigate the impact of continuously rising chemical fertilizer prices amid global economic volatility and Middle East geopolitical tensions affecting energy and fertilizer costs.
On April 28, 2025, Land Development Department Director Sumitra Wattana announced that the department is backing Agriculture Minister Suriya Chungrungreungkit's policy to promote organic fertilizer and implement urgent proactive measures to assist farmers. The focus is on reducing chemical fertilizer dependency, encouraging farmers to make their own fertilizer based on soil analysis, using organic and biofertilizer from raw milk, and improving crop growth efficiency while cutting costs.
The department has adopted an active operational approach under the concept "Know Your Soil, Reduce Chemical Fertilizer, Achieve Sustainable Agriculture" to help reduce costs, increase production efficiency, and ensure long-term food security. The department is implementing 4 urgent measures nationwide:
1. Plant Nutrient Maps for Precision Fertilizer Use and Real Cost Reduction: Developing plant nutrient maps by region nationwide to help farmers analyze soil and use fertilizer appropriately through digital systems such as soil maps, good soil cards, Zoning by Agri-Map, and e-Service soil testing, plus an AI chatbot "Nong Dindee" via Line providing 24-hour consultation.
2. Cost-Reduction Formula Using 70% Chemical Fertilizer Based on Soil Analysis and 30% Organic/Biofertilizer: Targeting a reduction in chemical fertilizer use from 8.6 million tons to 2.6 million tons by promoting fresh plant fertilizer, organic fertilizer, biofertilizer, and fermented biological liquid for 13 commercial crops through volunteer soil doctor networks and learning centers nationwide.
3. Quick Win 3-Month Plan to Rapidly Deliver Knowledge to Farmers: Planning activities where April 2025 focuses on transferring organic fertilizer access processes and providing learning resources, May 2025 supports production inputs and fresh plant seeds, and June 2025 conducts demonstrations and promotes organic fertilizer use in actual farm plots.
4. Expansion to 77 Provinces to Build Strength from the Grassroots: Targeting 1,750 strong groups and 40 comprehensive groups covering all provinces nationwide, using local waste materials such as rice straw and animal manure to produce organic fertilizer, while transferring knowledge through 77 land development stations and integrating with government and private agencies including the Agricultural Promotion Department, Rice Department, Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Highland Research and Development Institute.
The Land Development Department Director further stated that promoting farmers to produce their own organic fertilizer not only reduces costs in the short term but also builds agricultural immunity, reduces import dependency, and restores soil quality for long-term sustainability.
