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On 25 Apr 2026 GMT+7 in Udon Thani province, Professor Dr. Yossanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education,led the Ministry of Higher Education,as chair at the launch ceremony of the project"Custom Fertilizer for Thai Farmers"to assist farmers affected by soaring chemical fertilizer prices and soil degradation. The event was attended by Mr. Julpan Amornwiwat, Minister of Labour; Mr. Watcharapon Khawkhum, Deputy Minister of Agriculture; Mr. Rachan Soonhua, Governor of Udon Thani; Associate Professor Dr. Weerachai Ajhan, Governor of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR); along with executives, staff, and local farmers at the Agricultural Cooperative for Customer Marketing, BAAC Udon Thani Limited.
Professor Dr. Yossanan stated that the government and the Ministry of Higher Education fully recognize that“the key heart”of driving Thailand’s economy is its farmers. However, they currently face multiple challenges including climate change and global market volatility, especially the rising costs of chemical fertilizers, a major input. Therefore, the government has an urgent policy to apply“science, technology, and innovation”to concretely reduce burdens and increase income for farmers.
Today’s custom fertilizer project is not just about producing fertilizer but about combining knowledge with appropriate technology by shifting from flat-rate fertilizer use to fertilizer specifically designed for the actual soil conditions in each area. The results are remarkable, reducing costs by 40-60% and increasing soil organic matter, revitalizing and enriching the soil. The project uses agricultural cooperatives as strong community foundations to install fertilizer production machines and intelligent platforms, aiming to scale nationwide to build"food security"and"economic prosperity"for Thailand sustainably.
Professor Dr. Yossanan added that the project began as a pilot at cooperatives in Udon Thani province and aims to expand to model cooperatives to prove effectiveness before nationwide rollout. The crucial element is enabling farmers to access"customized fertilizer bases"suitable for their soil and crops through accessible tools, including the Ministry of Agriculture’s application or soil testing kits from the Ministry of Higher Education.
Additionally, they introduced an innovation"organic-chemical fertilizer"which uses agricultural waste such as rice stubble, processed and blended with chemical fertilizer bases. This maintains crop productivity while restoring soil quality in the long term, reducing environmental impact. Importantly, it integrates cross-ministry collaboration among the Agriculture Ministry, Labour Ministry, and local administrative organizations to upgrade skills and create supplementary livelihoods for farmers during crises, fostering sustainable smiles and security for farmers and Thai workers alike.
Mr. Watcharapon Khawkhum, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said Thailand’s agricultural sector currently faces a crisis of soaring chemical fertilizer prices due to geopolitical issues. Thailand imports over 40% of its fertilizer from abroad. Promoting"customized organic-chemical fertilizer"which blends organic and chemical fertilizers based on soil analysis is a key solution to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizer alone and to address soil degradation caused by prolonged chemical use by restoring at least 10% organic matter back into the soil.
Mr. Rachan Soonhua, Governor of Udon Thani, added that Udon Thani is a high-potential agricultural area with over 70% of land used for farming. With TISTR piloting the custom fertilizer project here, it offers a timely solution to the current fertilizer price crisis. This platform will be a critical mechanism to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and farmers in the province, enabling self-reliance and sustainably improving quality of life.
Associate Professor Dr. Weerachai Ajhan, Governor of TISTR and head of the custom fertilizer research and development project, explained the technical details: the project aims to install fertilizer mixing machines and intelligent fertilizer management platforms at 30 agricultural cooperatives in three pilot provinces—Udon Thani, Chainat, and Chiang Rai—making cooperatives centers for mixing and distributing quality custom fertilizer at fair prices. TISTR will transfer knowledge for producing high-quality organic fertilizer with recognized standards and use"TISTR’s organic-chemical fertilizer formulation software"to control mixing, ensuring nutrient content matches the needs of each plant and soil plot. This can reduce fertilizer costs by up to 60% compared to standard chemical fertilizer formulas.
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