The Development of Thai Agricultural Extension: From the Foundation to Sustainability with Innovation

The Development of Thai Agricultural Extension: From the Foundation to Sustainability with Innovation

Published: 2025.10.03
Accepted: 2025.09.29
5
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Thai agricultural extension work has been continuously adapting and evolving for over five decades, progressing from providing immediate assistance to a complex and integrated system, with the ultimate goals of improving farmers’ quality of life and creating sustainability for the Thai agricultural sector. The most important development is the transformation from a "giver" to a "co-developer" aiming to strengthen farmers' potential to become self-reliant through the transfer of knowledge and modern technology, whether including Training and Visit (T&V) system that emphasizes close fieldwork or Mapping, Remote Sensing, Community Participation and Focus (MRCF) system approach that integrates the use of data, maps, remote communication and community participation to make operations flexible and responsive to changing contexts. As researchers, we see that the main objectives of the agricultural extension system are to improve farmers’ quality of life and develop the agricultural sector to become sustainable. The focus is on increasing farmers’ ability to generate income and manage costs, as well as promoting the efficient use of resources to conserve the environment. In addition, it emphasizes enhancing knowledge, skills, and innovation for farmers through the smart farming technology and other various innovations to increase efficiency and reduce risks, including developing farmers to have an entrepreneurial mindset in agriculture and preparing for adaptation to international regulations and taxes related to agriculture to maintain competitiveness in the global market in the long term. All of this indicates that the extension of Thai agriculture has continually moved forward to ensure that Thai farmers can grow steadily, prosperously, and sustainably in this era of change.

Keywords: Agricultural Extension, Farmer Empowerment, Sustainable Agriculture, Smart Farming, Agricultural Policy

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural extension is a process aiming at changing and improving the knowledge, skills, practices and attitudes of farmers by providing knowledge and new agricultural technologies that benefit farmers with increased income and better quality of life and environment.

EVOLUTION OF THAI AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

Agricultural extension in Thailand has been in development for over five decades, progressing from individual assistance to complex and integrated systems in response to changing challenges. (Srisangchan, 2004)

In the early days (1967-1976), the Department of Agricultural Extension focused on solving immediate problems for farmers. However, the transfer of knowledge was still limited. With the help of international organizations, an agricultural development project in irrigated areas was initiated, resulting in the successful dissemination of new knowledge to farmers.

This success laid an important foundation for improving the agricultural extension system by introducing the training and visit system nationwide during the 4th-5th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1977-1986). Following the 6th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1987-1991), the system components were further developed to be more comprehensive. Sub-district Agricultural Centers were established to serve as learning centers. Important projects such as the Farmer Planning and Development System Improvement Project (FPDP) were initiated to plan production in line with market demand.

In the following period, the 7th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1992-1996), agricultural extension focused on increasing income and improving the quality of farmers’ life as well as developing them to become self-reliant through group processes.

A significant change occurred in the 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1997-2001) with the establishment of Sub-district Agricultural Technology Service and Transfer Centers, one-stop services for transferring knowledge and integrating the work of government agencies, targeted on increasing the potential of communities in developing agriculture on their own. This idea, which adopted the philosophy of the Sufficiency Economy as its main guideline by putting "people" at the center and using Sub-district Agricultural Service Centers as the main driving mechanism, was continued in the 9th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-2006).

In the 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2007-2011), the focus was still on preparing people as the center of holistic development and continuously embracing the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. In the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016), the focus was on building
self-immunity, strengthening from within as well as adapting to change, while still adhering to the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. Meanwhile, the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2017-2021) targeted at developing towards stability, prosperity, and sustainability by applying the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy along with the use of knowledge and ability to compete effectively and in order to help farmers escape from the middle-income trap.

Under the current 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023-2027), agricultural extension work has entered a new era emphasizing  "high-value agriculture yet environmentally friendly." Smart farming and precision agriculture are being utilized to enhance efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. In addition, strengthening farmers and agricultural institutes with a focus on market-led production enables Thai agricultural products to compete in the global market. The Department of Agricultural Extension is also committed to the goal of "Net Zero Emissions" in the agricultural sector, and it will become a fully digital organization.

In summary, Thai agricultural extension work is moving from being only as an assistant to a co-developer, with a focus on enhancing the potential of farmers and the Thai agricultural sector for sustainable growth through the application of innovation. Currently, most farmers are elderly with an average age of 58.70 years (Office of Agricultural Economics, 2023). This critical data must be considered to respond to the changing agricultural population structure. It is important that the production of media and knowledge is up-to-date, easy to understand, and easily accessible for elderly farmers, whether simplified digital media or small participatory learning workshops. Besides, supporting new generations of agricultural innovators is another critical pillar. Attracting new generations to the agricultural sector will tremendously help drive agricultural extension work to move forward. To compete on the world stage, new generations of agricultural innovators can bring creativity, new technologies, and diverse perspectives. Integrating elderly farmers with new generations of agricultural innovators will help Thai agricultural extension work achieve its goals of ensuring food security, improving farmers’ quality of living, and driving the country’s grassroots economy to grow strongly and sustainably.

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AS A PILLAR FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF THAI FARMERS

Agricultural extension is a crucial mechanism for driving the agricultural sector of Thailand towards sustainability. The main objectives of this extension are to transfer knowledge and new technologies directly from experts to farmers, as well as provide a platform for farmers to reflect on problems and exchange ideas. This operation can be successful in case the target group is reached strategically. According to the number of recipients and the application of mixed methods for maximum efficiency, the extension methods can be divided into three main types. (Thongthainan, 2003)

Individual extension

Individual extension is a one-on-one communication between extension officers and farmers. This method is outstanding in providing specific advice tailored to the needs and problems of each farmer, including on-site visits, office consultations, and contact via modern channels such as telephone and email. The advantages are to build good relationships, stimulate interests, and allow farmers to participate fully in decision-making. However, this method comes with a time constraint and is quite expensive. (Thongthainan, 2003)

Group extension

Group extension is a group of farmers who come together to learn and exchange experiences. This method involves a variety of activities such as group meetings, farm tours, training, demonstrations of cultivation methods, or field days. The clear advantages are that farmers can learn from the experiences of their fellow members, build networks, and reduce the cost of access per head compared to the individual method. Due to the fact that farmers have different basic knowledge, it is important to realize that receiving information may not be widespread. (Thongthainan, 2003)

Mass extension

Mass extension emphasizes the use of various media to reach many farmers on a broad scale, including through publications, exhibitions, campaigns, radio, television, news towers, or even online media. This method has the advantages of being fast in disseminating information and having a very low cost per recipient. It creates widespread awareness with the highest efficiency. However, the limitation of this method is that it is difficult to specify the target group in detail. As a result, the content may not meet the needs of all groups of farmers. In addition, farmers may not pay much attention. (Thongthainan, 2003)

In reality, there is no perfect extension method. A combination of extension methods would be the most suitable approach, such as listening to a radio or watching a television in groups, followed by a group discussion to exchange ideas, or solving specific problems that require a combination of different media. The application of these strategies will help transfer knowledge, technology, and problem solving to farmers effectively, comprehensively, and sustainably, in order to further improve the quality of life of Thai farmers.

MECHANISMS DRIVING THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THAI AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

The agricultural extension system has long been a key driver of Thailand's agricultural sector. Its primary mission is to develop and improve farmers' production efficiency as well as elevate their quality of living through the application of various techniques and methods to enhance their capabilities in pursuing their sustainable careers. (Department of Agricultural Extension, n.d.)

In the past, the primary mechanism for agricultural extension in Thailand was the Training and Visit System (T&V System). It was first tested in 1975 and subsequently expanded to become the country's main agricultural extension system in 1977, with support from the World Bank. The T&V system emphasized the transfer of knowledge from officials to farmers through training, continuous field visits, and the establishment of technology transfer service centers in each sub-district, serving as a source of learning and agricultural technology services at the local level. When the economic, social, and technological contexts have changed rapidly, some limitations of the T&V system began to arise in responding to the diversity and complexity of the problems that farmers faced. With constraints in manpower, budget, and equipment, direct technological knowledge transfer from government officials to farmers has been replaced by the use of some communication technology, which resulted in a decrease in interactions and relationships between government officials and farmers. (Department of Agricultural Extension, n.d.)

To overcome such constraints and respond to the current situation, the Department of Agricultural Extension has improved the agricultural extension system in line with modern trends by adhering to the principles of the T&V System and incorporating the new MRCF System System (Mapping, Remote Sensing, Community Participation and Focus) approach focusing on integrating data, technology, community participation, and clearly defining specific targets. As a result, agricultural extension operations become more flexible, modern, and effectively responsive to changes. (Department of Agricultural Extension, n.d.)

COMPONENTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM

Training and Visit System (T&V System)

T&V System involves knowledge transfer and a visit. Although there have been improvements, the T&V system remains a crucial foundation of agricultural extension. (Benor and Harrison, 1977) It consists of 5 main components as follows:

  1. Training is to organize training, seminars, study tours, or use various media to provide agricultural knowledge and information to farmers.
  2. Visiting is to go to a field to meet, exchange, learn about farmers’ problems, give them advice, and help them closely.
  3. Supporting is to assist in terms of production factors, capital, group formation, marketing, and product processing.
  4. Supervision is used to monitor and evaluate operations, ensuring efficiency and enabling prompt improvement and problem-solving.
  5. Data management is the process of collecting and analyzing data used in planning and evaluating agricultural extension.

MRCF System (Mapping, Remote Sensing, Community Participation, and Focus)

MRCF System is a new modern and flexible approach. The MRCF is an important tool that helps extension workers work more efficiently and integrate with other agencies. (Saengbuaphuen and Suthirawong, 2023) It has four main components:

  1. Mapping is the analysis of map data and information to prepare for fieldwork, analyze situations, and set guidelines for working together.
  2. Remote Sensing is the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to provide services and communicate between extension workers and farmers from a distance, reducing time, distance, and cost constraints.
  3. Community Participation is the extension of farmers, communities, and stakeholders to play a role in planning, decision-making, operations, and mutual benefits by creating a sense of ownership and leading to sustainable development.
  4. Focus is the determination of specific goals and areas of work, such as learning centers, large plots, or specific farmer groups, aiming at tangible results that can be expanded.

THE OBJECTIVES OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

The agricultural extension system has the ultimate goals of sustainably upgrading the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ quality of life. (Department of Agricultural Extension, 2020) The goals are as follows:

  1. Developing farmers’ quality of life concentrates on increasing their ability to generate income and manage production costs to elevate their economic status and livelihoods to be better and more stable.
  2. Developing sustainable agriculture promotes agricultural approaches that use  resources efficiently, being aware of impacts on environmental and ecosystem, and adapting to climate change to create long-term balance and sustainability.
  3. Strengthening farmers and farmer organizations enhances knowledge, skills, and innovation for farmers, promotes group formation and networking, and increases bargaining power in the market.
  4. Developing smart agriculture and innovation focuses on the application of modern agricultural technologies and innovations, such as agricultural drones, environmental sensors, smart watering systems, big data platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) to increase efficiency, reduce risks, and create value-added products.
  5. Developing farmers to become agricultural entrepreneurs includes instilling business concepts, seeking marketing opportunities, developing various skills in business: planning, marketing, finance, accounting, human resource management, branding, and data-driven decision-making.
  6. Adapting to agricultural regulations and taxes (Agricultural Regulations & Tax: EUDR, CBAM, CO2 Neutral) helps prepare and encourage Thai farmers to adapt to and comply with stricter international trade and environmental regulations to maintain competitiveness and market opportunities.

CONCLUSION

Promoting Thai agriculture towards sustainability with innovation and "people" as the center. For over five decades, Thailand's agricultural extension system has evolved from providing direct assistance to becoming a co-developer that empowers farmers to be self-reliant. This shift, aimed at improving farmers' quality of life and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector, utilizes a variety of methods and technologies—these range from fieldwork-focused T&V systems to the data-driven MRCF approach, which integrates maps and remote communication. The core objectives are to enhance farmers' income, reduce costs, and promote efficient resource use while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. By equipping farmers with knowledge of smart farming and other innovations, the system aims to enhance their efficiency, mitigate risks, and prepare them to remain competitive in the global market.

REFERENCES

Benor, D., & Harrison, J. Q. (1977). Agricultural Extension: The Training and Visit System. The World Bank.

Department of Agricultural Extension. (2020). Commemorative book of the Department of Agricultural Extension's 50th Anniversary (1967). Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangkok.

Department of Agricultural Extension. (n.d.). Agricultural Promotion System (T&V System) Booklet. Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Agricultural Office.

Saengbuaphuen, P., & Suthirawong, S. (2023). Opinions of agricultural extension officers on the implementation of the MRCF system in agricultural promotion in Chiang Mai Province. Journal of Agricultural Research and Extension, 40(3), 1-13.

Srisangchan, P. (2004). Promoting agriculture in the information technology era. Phetkasem Printing, Nakhon Pathom.

Thongthainan, Y. (2003). Agricultural Administration and Rural Development. Prasit Design Co., Ltd., Tak.

Comment