A new AgriTech application developed by AXONS in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) is set to transform Thailand’s agricultural landscape, tackling age-old challenges for farmers with cutting-edge technology.
The free mobile app, Farm One, aims to boost productivity, promote sustainability, and build a robust digital ecosystem for a sector that employs 30% of the nation’s workforce and generates THB 1.8 trillion (approx. USD 50 billion) for the economy.
For generations, Thai agriculture has been defined by tradition. However, with many farmers still lacking access to modern technology, AXONS—an international AgriTech developer under the umbrella of agri-food conglomerate CPF—embarked on a mission to bridge this gap. The initiative directly supports Thailand’s national Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, which prioritizes technology and sustainable development.
“This wasn’t born in a boardroom,” said Bodin Milindankura, Director – IT Solution FIT and CPCRT – AXONS. “We started by going into the fields and speaking directly with farmers to understand their true pain points. AXONS didn’t ask what we wanted to build for them; we asked what they wanted to use. This is a passion project aimed at creating real change.”
This farmer-centric approach led to the development of Farm One, which was rapidly prototyped in a 3-6 week innovation cycle at the AWS Builder Studio. Launched in late 2024, the award-winning app functions as a digital companion for farmers, offering a suite of powerful, data-driven tools.
Farm One leverages AI, IoT, and satellite imagery to provide:
- Hyper-Local Weather Forecasts: High-resolution predictions accurate down to a 4×4 meter plot, enabling precise planning for planting, fertilizing, and harvesting.
- AI-Powered Disease Diagnosis: Farmers can use their smartphone camera to identify crop diseases and pests, receiving immediate recommendations for treatment and prevention.
- NDVI Satellite Health Assessment: The app analyzes satellite data (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) to monitor crop health across entire fields, helping farmers identify problem areas early.
Crucially, the app is free and designed to be accessible, running on both Android and iOS devices, including models up to five years old. It has already attracted approximately 2,000 registered users, with a majority aged between 33-45.
The impact is already tangible. Kritsada (Men) Boontang, a 32-year-old farmer who took over his family’s corn farm, has been using the app for a year. “Previously, if we had a crop disease, it could take a month to find the right solution, and by then it was often too late,” he explained.
“With the app, I can identify the disease and get the correct treatment within seven days.”
The results are striking. Krisada reports a 30% increase in his corn yield, from 1 ton per rai (0.4 acres) to 1.3-1.4 tons, with a goal of reaching 1.5 tons soon. His family, with generations of farming experience, confirms that the technology has outperformed their traditional methods.
They are now eager for the app to expand its support to their other crops, including sugarcane and cassava.
While the app is free for farmers, AXONS envisions a long-term strategy centered on building an agricultural ecosystem. The company plans to use anonymized, aggregated data to generate macro-level insights that can support other businesses in the sector. An API is also in development to allow startups to build new services on the Farm One platform.
“We have no direct monetization plan for the app itself,” Bodin affirmed, emphasizing that user data privacy is paramount, with all personal information encrypted and kept confidential.
The platform is a significant driver for sustainability. By providing precise data on soil moisture and weather, it helps farmers optimize the use of water and fertilizer, reducing waste and environmental runoff.
AWS provides the critical cloud infrastructure that allows the platform to scale from its current user base to potentially millions of farmers across Thailand and beyond.
“Our collaboration is about more than just technology; it’s about bridging the digital divide,” said Tippamas Achalakul, Head of Commercial Industries, AWS Thailand. “We provide the scalable foundation for growth and support digital literacy through training initiatives like AWS Skill Builder.”
Farm One is more than just an application; it represents a fundamental shift for Thai agriculture—a bridge between deep-rooted tradition and a sustainable, data-driven future.
Krungsri Commits ฿10 Billion to AI-Driven Transformation
CPN invests THB 21 Billion to forge new CBD in north Bangkok
