depa announces progress on the 1 Tambon 1 Digital (Chumchon Drone Jai) Project, completing the first phase with successful establishment of 35 drone repair centers and planning to complete the goal of approving a total 50 centers by July 2024. This initiative aims to enhance communities and farmers nationwide by providing access to agricultural drones, teaching them to fly and repair these drones, upskilling community technicians and creating new job opportunities. This effort will drive the digital ecosystem and strengthen the sustainability of Thailand’s agricultural sector.
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), led by depa, has implemented the 1 Tambon 1 Digital (Chumchon Drone Jai) Project to promote and support the creation of a digital ecosystem. This project aims to elevate communities with domestically produced agricultural drone technology that meets dSURE standards to ensure safety and reliability. Additionally, the project has been developing the knowledge and skills related to drone operation and maintenance among farmers and communities across Thailand. This includes supporting the transition of traditional repair businesses into agricultural drone repair centers. The goal is to establish 50 agricultural drone repair centers nationwide within one year, facilitating the use of drones in 500 communities, benefiting to over 10,000 households and covering more than 4 million rai of agricultural land across the country.
Currently, depa has already approved the establishment of 35 agricultural drone repair centers, including 8 in the northern region, 19 in the northeastern region, 5 in the central and western regions, 2 in the eastern region and 1 in the southern region. Efforts are ongoing to approve the remaining centers from community groups and local technicians to reach the target of 50 centers nationwide by July 2024. These centers will become integral parts of the digital technology application ecosystem in agriculture, enabling communities to fly and repair drones. Each center should also be able to serve at least 10 nearby communities.
Furthermore, depa is accelerating the establishment of centers for developing flight skills, licensing and agricultural drone technology. This initiative is in collaboration with the Power Agrotech (Thailand) Co., Ltd. through the Digital Infrastructure Fund for Private & Public Investment. It aims to develop training centers for drone pilots and maintenance technicians, providing drone pilot licenses and registration services across five regions, including Si Racha District, Chonburi; Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok; Hat Yai District, Songkhla; Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen; and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani. The collaboration will also oversee the Academy and Licensing Platform and training programs that are certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, aiming to support the development of over 1,500 drone pilots and at least 100 maintenance technicians within three years.
“The operation of agricultural drone repair centers under the 1 Tambon 1 Digital (Chumchon Drone Jai) Project enhances the repair skills and knowledge of community technicians, such as mechanics, electricians, electronics specialists, etc., to become qualified agricultural drone repair technicians. This initiative helps create jobs, career opportunities and access to digital skills development, establishing a new ecosystem to elevate Thailand’s agricultural sector with drone technology and creating the communities that can fly and repair drones. All activities are incorporated to meet the goal of driving communities with digital technology towards sustainable growth,” added the depa president and CEO.
For more information on the 35 repair centers, please visit https://linktr.ee/LocationFixit or inquire at Telephone: 065-442-4347 and 065-442-4729. depa’s news and updates are also available at www.facebook.com/depathai.
