Drones in a Thai field

Drones over a field in Thailand. Photo: Nation

Reduce costs, increase productivity.

Drones have become one of the key technologies transforming Thailand's smart agriculture , helping farmers survey farmland, analyze data, plan cultivation and fertilization, and spray pesticides with greater accuracy, thereby saving production costs and minimizing environmental impact.

According to Nation, data from the project “Drones in Safe Agriculture: The Nakhon Phanom Model” by the Aviation Telecommunications Company of Thailand (AEROTHAI) clearly shows the potential.

On a trial plot of approximately 22 rai (equivalent to 3.52 hectares) of Kor Khor 22 glutinous rice in Tha Uthen district, Nakhon Phanom province, drone-assisted cultivation reduced rice seed usage by 52%, fertilizer use by 25%, and labor costs by 41%. The project also increased average yield to 1,100 kg/rai, or 250 kg higher than traditional farming methods.

After deducting expenses, farmers earned an average income of 5,254 baht/rai, which is 2,509 baht higher than the income from traditional rice farming.

AEROTHAI reports that the use of drones in agriculture is increasing by more than 20% annually, with over 200,000 drones currently operating in rice paddies, orchards, and other cultivated areas across this Southeast Asian nation.

Open a drone training center.

To promote the widespread use of drones in agriculture, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) is collaborating with the Remote Controlled Aircraft Sports Association to open drone technology training courses, such as at several vocational education institutions.

The programs range from the basic use of drone technology to the further development and application of advanced drone innovations in agriculture.

Training not only creates new job opportunities but also contributes to improving the income of local workers.

Drone training center in Thailand. Photo: Nation

In particular, in addition to NRCT's agricultural drone training centers, several agencies in Thailand are also promoting the use of drones as part of their efforts to help the Thai agricultural sector thrive in the digital age.

For example, the Thai Department of Agriculture recently launched a drone training project at the Saen Palm training center in Kamphaeng Saen district, Nakhon Pathom province.

The program provides farmers with opportunities to learn both theory and practice, including drone regulations and licensing procedures, equipment maintenance, and the safe, accurate, and responsible operation of drones, both socially and environmentally.

Currently, this training course is for 120 farmers, divided into four groups. Each group will attend a two-day course between May 24 and 31, 2026.

“We want Thai farmers to catch up with technology and be able to leverage this knowledge to create career opportunities, earn income, and become providers of agricultural services in their communities,” said Anchalee Suvachittanont, Director-General of the Agricultural Extension Department of Thailand, according to Nation.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/drone-tren-canh-dong-thai-lan-3338424.html