Supachai has instructed the Ministry of Commerce to proceed with reforming agricultural product management by promoting "Rice Big Data" to integrate data from three ministries (Commerce, Agriculture, Higher Education). A pilot project in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province uses satellite data to develop a Dashboard for real-time yield forecasting, helping plan production and markets, and efficiently absorb surplus output.
Ms. Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, revealed she has directed the Ministry of Commerce to enhance the use of in-depth data for systematic management of agricultural supply and demand, covering the entire chain from upstream to downstream. The focus is on using a Dashboard to forecast rice yields, enabling monitoring of local situations and precise, timely planning of production, marketing, and absorption of output.
"We must shift from reactive management to proactive, data-driven policy. The Dashboard system is a key tool linking all data to enable accurate and timely decisions," Supachai said.
The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS), together with the Commerce Office of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, visited the area on 12 May 2026 to monitor and accelerate the pilot Dashboard system. It uses satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and integrates data with related agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Department of Agricultural Extension, and farmers to link data from production to market into a "single dataset" supporting policy decisions.
During the visit, officials checked actual data in two districts: Phachi and Uthai. They gathered feedback from farmers and local agencies, identifying three key issues:
Additionally, local farmers confirmed that satellite data can accurately estimate planting periods consistent with real situations, an important foundation to further enhance Dashboard accuracy.
The Ministry of Commerce aims to realize tangible results from this system within two months to enable practical use at the local level and support future policy decisions. They plan to apply AI technology and the Prism Model (Precision Rice Intelligence for Strategy & Market Model) to analyze global rice demand, assess market potential, evaluate trade constraints, and develop proactive strategies so Thai rice exports can precisely meet consumer behavior in each segment.
Meanwhile, the Ministry plans to build on the successful pilot collaboration in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya by expanding operations to all 76 provinces nationwide. This will transform rice management using Big Data and AI technology, enabling real-time yield monitoring and comprehensive supply-demand management—from production planning and market linkage to precise and timely policy measures.
Supachai concluded, "Our goal is to create a ‘national rice management system’ that unifies data at all levels to manage supply and demand in real time and elevate Thai rice competitiveness sustainably in the global market." This initiative is a major step in creating a "single data system" connecting all sectors—including the Ministries of Commerce, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, as well as farmers and the public—to improve agricultural product management efficiently, transparently, and sustainably over the long term.
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