Mr. Peerapan Kothong, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed that Thailand is currently entering a new era in the agricultural sector, driven by satellite technology and digital innovations. These technologies will help increase production efficiency, manage resources effectively, and connect farmers to markets accurately. The transition to digital agriculture will not only increase yields and reduce costs for farmers but also create new economic opportunities that benefit farmers, consumers, and the country's overall competitiveness. Modern technologies are diverse and easily accessible, such as satellite imagery analysis, real-time weather data, precision farming systems, and various digital data platforms. These tools will help farmers plan their planting appropriately for their specific areas, maximize the efficiency of production factors like fertilizers and water, reduce risks from natural disasters, and importantly, produce goods that accurately meet market demand.

In addition to the benefits for farmers, digital data systems also enhance transparency through traceability systems, building confidence in the quality and safety of Thai agricultural products and food internationally. The development of digital agriculture is therefore a crucial foundation for ensuring food security and improving farmers' income and well-being in the long term. The Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) emphasized the significant role of the private sector and startups in creating rapidly growing agricultural data applications and software. These applications encompass crop health analysis, soil data, market linkage platforms, financial services, and sustainability management. These digital businesses benefit from rapid service scalability, reduced unit costs, and maximum efficiency. The private sector possesses greater agility in developing innovations to keep pace with change than the government alone.

"The growth of digital agriculture also comes with challenges that require careful management, such as system continuity, cybersecurity risks, and the high investment burden in technology, as well as compliance with relevant laws and international standards. The government's crucial role going forward is to promote innovation coupled with fair regulation to create an environment conducive to collaboration. The OAE and related agencies will expedite the establishment of a data governance framework to protect farmers' data rights and promote open data standards to enable interconnected systems, reduce monopolies, and create mechanisms for equitable benefit sharing." This push for digital agriculture will truly elevate the structure of Thailand's agricultural economy, making it stronger and more sustainable in the information age,” the Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics concluded.

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