depa Drives Drone Adoption in Agriculture Across 60 Provinces - Launches Nationwide Drone Repair Centers

Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), stated that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) and depa have collaborated with both public and private sector partners to drive the "1 Tambon 1 Digital (Chumchon Drone Jai) Project". This initiative promotes the development of a digital ecosystem while empowering farmers and communities across the country with Thailand-made agricultural drones certified by depa's dSURE standard. In addition, drone flight training centres, control facilities and agricultural drone repair centres are being established, alongside skill development programs to equip farmers and communities to efficiently provide drone flying services.

Recently, depa has promoted the use of drones in agriculture to 424 farming communities across 60 provinces. These include:

Northern communities: A total of 104 communities across Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phetchabun, Phrae, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Lampang, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Uttaradit and Uthai Thani.

Southern communities: 31 communities in Southern Thailand, covering Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat and Yala.

Central and Western communities: 52 communities in Central and Western Thailand, covering Phetchaburi, Bangkok, Nakhon Nayok, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, Lopburi, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri and Ang Thong.

Eastern communities: 12 communities in Eastern Thailand, covering Chonburi, Trat, Prachinburi, Rayong and Sa Kaeo.

Northeastern communities: 225 communities in Northeastern Thailand, covering Loei, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Bueng Kan, Buriram, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Roi Et, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Amnat Charoen, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

In parallel, training programs for drone operators are being conducted across all participating agricultural drone communities. These programs offer both theoretical instruction from expert agricultural drone professionals and practical sessions, enabling participants with hands-on experience. Moreover, there are currently 48 approved agricultural drone repair centres, distributed as follows: 11 centres in Northern Thailand, 26 centres in Northeastern Thailand, 6 centres in Central and Western Thailand, 2 centres in Eastern Thailand and 3 centres in Southern Thailand. Each repair centre serves at least 10 neighbouring communities. All activities are aligned to foster a sustainable ecosystem for the use of drone technology in agriculture, empowering communities to both pilot and maintain drones effectively.

"depa aims to develop the skills of at least 1,000 farmers and community members to become drone service providers within the first year of the project's implementation. Our goal is to establish 50 agricultural drone repair centres and support 500 communities in adopting drone technology for agriculture, covering a total agricultural area of no less than 4 million rai-land. This initiative will also help reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals while lowering labour costs, boosting crop yields and income and improving the quality of life for farmers and local technicians. Furthermore, it will create jobs and careers, ensuring fair and widespread access to digital technology," said the depa President and CEO.

Interested communities and farmers can easily register to be part of the 1 Tambon 1 Digital (Chumchon Drone Jai) Project via https://short.depa.or.th/TJers. For more information and updates, please visit Facebook Page: depa Thailand.