Challenges

The agricultural sector is crucial to Thailand’s economic growth, but farmers face challenges in accessing necessary resources and technologies. The situation may worsen due to the impacts of climate change, which may result in a decline in productivity and income. Moreover, traditional farming methods can lead to more human error and high production costs in farm management. 

While new innovations are available, the initial setup costs of advanced irrigation systems make it difficult for farmers to adopt these solutions. Widespread adoption among diverse agricultural groups, including cooperative members and young farmers, remains a challenge for achieving optimal resource sharing and collaboration.

Solutions

To address these challenges, FarmConnect Asia (FCA) offers a comprehensive solution for precision agriculture that includes an Internet of Things (IoT) controller sensor system and high-efficiency irrigation equipment designed to be affordable and effective for smallholder farmers. This provides farmers with insights for informed decision-making and results in a reduction of up to 10% of water consumption.

FarmConnect Asia’s IoT  system is also equipped with a controller, soil sensors, a weather station, irrigation equipment (drip/mini sprinkler), a visual analysis platform, and communication equipment. The system can be monitored and automated through farmers’ smartphones to support precision agriculture and crop management. The real-time data analytics platforms allow farmers to monitor crop conditions remotely and make timely adjustments to their management practices. The innovation is suitable for various crops, especially durian, melons, and vegetables.  

FCA also helps farmers access innovation by facilitating loan processes and partnership with local banks such as Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) and the Government Savings Bank (GSB).