Using Geographic Information System for agricultural planning in Thailand
Supan Karnchanasutham and Virchan amarakul
Remote Sensing Center for Agricultural Resources
Office of Agricultural Economics
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Abstract
Remote Sensing center for Agricultural Resources (RCAR) has been using Remote Sensing techniques to gather timely data on crop production and using Geographic Information System (GIS) for Agricultural planning. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for the many facets of agriculture and relate activities such as forestry, fisheries and irrigation. As part of the plan preparations, the suitability of the soils for each specified crop, hydrology and other environmental factors in each province are assessed in GIS.
Data for this assessment includes :
- Soil suitability map and land map (Land Development Department)
- Conservation forest area and legal forest area (Royal Forestry Department)
- Land cover map (classified form satellite data) by RCAR.
The provincial agricultural development plans identify areas where improvements in agricultural production are technically possible. Then recommendation and proposed are sent to local government office.
Introduction
Thailand is a richly endowed tropical country with a wide variety of environmental conditions. It has enjoyed a food surplus for many years and is the biggest exporter of rice in the world. Recently, Thailand also
has exported foods such as tapioca, canned pineapple and processed seafoods, especially shrimp. Thailand's agriculture has changed dramatically in the past two decades, mainly in response to the "green revolution". The advances associated with this revolution were rapidly accepted in Thailand, as they were in most tropical countries, but with them came increased dependence on artificial fertilizers, pesticides and mechanization.
Thailand's agriculture is closely linked to global markets with more corporate investment, larger holdings and greater dependence on international trade and prices. Both producer and the government require rapid access to accurate agricultural information to monitor the volume of expected harvests, to plan changes in crop production (such as irrigation), and to alleviate environmental problems such as crop diseases and insect infestations.
Accurately, timely and reliable information is necessary for agricultural policy making and planning. To derive such information satellite data analysis and geographic information system (GIS) are being studies and used.
