MODERN FARMERS: TOWARDS PRECISION AGRICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Modern farmers and precision agriculture serve as crucial mechanisms in driving Thailand's agricultural sector towards sustainability. Modern farmers refer to agricultural practitioners who have adapted to the digital era and are prepared to apply contemporary technologies to enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and create sustainability in agricultural practices. These farmers are characterized by their openness to new technologies, business-oriented mindset, and continuous learning commitment. This group of farmers must possess technological skills, marketing competencies, management capabilities, learning aptitudes, and collaborative abilities. Precision agriculture represents a systematic approach to agricultural management that relies on data and technology for decision-making. Its fundamental principle involves providing appropriate production inputs in correct quantities, at optimal timing, and in specific locations. This system comprises four core components: data collection, data analysis, decision-making, and implementation. The integration of key technologies such as sensor systems, drones, satellites, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and artificial intelligence enhances production efficiency and resource conservation. The application of precision agriculture in Thailand's economic crops, including rice, sugarcane, and fruit crops, demonstrates significant potential for increasing yields and reducing costs. Precision agriculture plays a vital role in promoting agricultural sustainability across all dimensions: economically through cost reduction and yield enhancement, environmentally through reduced chemical usage and resource conservation, and socially through improved quality of life for farmers. The transition to precision agriculture requires comprehensive preparation in terms of knowledge, technology, capital, and support from all sectors to create a modern, efficient, and sustainable agricultural sector for the future.