Community Agricultural Drone Operators Support Nationwide Ban Despite Heavy Income Losses

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

In the wake of a nationwide drone flight ban imposed by The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), agricultural drone operators, a vital part of the country’s farming industry, have expressed support for the measure, despite significant daily income losses.

 

The CAAT announced on 30 July that all drone flights are prohibited across Thailand until at least 15 August 2025, citing national security concerns stemming from unrest near the Thai-Cambodian border. The temporary ban applies to all drone types and operations, including recreational, commercial and agricultural use. Violators face up to one year in prison or a fine of 40,000 baht, and military authorities have been authorised to disable or destroy drones found in violation.

 

In Uthai Thani province alone, there are over 1,000 licensed agricultural drone operators who rely on flying drones to spray fertilisers, sow seeds and apply chemical treatments on farmland. The ban has brought immediate and painful consequences for these workers, many of whom earn between 6,000 to 10,000 baht per day.

 

Mr. Theerapol Puangchuen, a 42-year-old farmer from Sawang Arom district, is among those affected. Having recently transitioned to full-time drone spraying, he shared his frustration:

 

“I usually work on 100–200 rai a day, charging 60 baht per rai. That’s thousands of baht in lost income. Just today, I received delivery of a new drone worth over half a million baht, paid in cash, completely unaware that a total flight ban would be imposed.”

 

Despite the setback, Mr. Theerapol said he fully supports the government’s decision, citing national security as a top priority. “If it’s for the safety and stability of our country, then we must accept it,” he said.

 

The ban is being strictly enforced, with reports of drones being electronically disabled mid-flight in some provinces. As a result, both professional and amateur drone pilots have ceased operations entirely. For newcomers to the drone spraying profession, the situation is especially dire, as many are still paying off loans on their equipment.

 

Some drone operators have called on authorities to consider regional exceptions to the ban, particularly in provinces that are not directly adjacent to the Cambodian border. However, in the absence of such flexibility, they have pledged to fully comply with the restrictions.

 

“Right now, rice farmers must resort to hiring manual labourers to spray chemicals, which is more time-consuming and less efficient,” Mr. Theerapol added.

 

While the disruption to the farming economy is considerable, the prevailing sentiment among affected workers is one of cooperation and national solidarity. The agricultural drone community is urging the public and fellow pilots to respect the ban and avoid any unauthorised drone activity.

 

“National security must come first,” Mr. Theerapol concluded. “We’ll endure this together for the good of the country.”

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1368317-civil-aviation-authority-bans-all-drone-flights-nationwide-until-15-august/

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-08-01

 

 

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

8 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Some drone operators have called on authorities to consider regional exceptions to the ban, particularly in provinces that are not directly adjacent to the Cambodian border. However, in the absence of such flexibility, they have pledged to fully comply with the restrictions.

This is too complicated... Thailand likes easy thinking.. strict rules for using these drones, such as that the drone alwyas have to be in sight of the navigator but even in Phuket they are now forbidden or in all other provinces far away from the Cambodian border...

[ukrules]

They don't care about the people are all.

Government dumb ideas first - livelihoods - well they don't even get a look in

 

 

[Freddy42OZ]

I've seen these big drones but had no idea they charged that much to spray or whatever they are doing. 

Might be worth buying 5 or 6 of these things and putting some Thais to work.

 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

They don't care about the people are all.

Government dumb ideas first - livelihoods - well they don't even get a look in

 

 

Just like the Covid days... 

[Hummin]

30 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

I've seen these big drones but had no idea they charged that much to spray or whatever they are doing. 

Might be worth buying 5 or 6 of these things and putting some Thais to work.

 

Good luck

 

That much? Get real, a drone worth 500k, how many hours is it going to fly, including service, hours and parts before it is repaid the investment? Do the calculations including lifespan and crashes

[IsaanT]

59 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Do the calculations including lifespan and crashes

This intrigued me so I asked ChatGPT to present the likely cost case:

 

While crop-spraying drones offer efficiency, the business case in Thailand can be marginal, especially given the capital cost of drones and the seasonal, weather-dependent demand.

Let’s break it down practically:

---

✅ Key Assumptions Based on What You’ve Heard

• Spray rate: 100–200 rai per day

• Rate charged: 60 baht per rai

• Daily revenue:

  • 100 rai × 60 = 6,000 baht

  • 200 rai × 60 = 12,000 baht

• Costs covered by farmer: chemicals, water, labor for mixing/refill, etc.

• Drone operator's direct costs: battery electricity, transport, maintenance, amortized drone cost

---

📅 Window of Opportunity – How Many Spray Days per Year?

In Thailand, rice is grown in 1–3 crop cycles per year, depending on irrigation:

1. Wet-season rice (May–Oct) – Main crop

• Planted around May–June (after rains start)

• Spraying typically occurs at:

  • Early vegetative (10–20 days after transplanting): pest or herbicide

  • Mid-tillering (30–45 days): fertilizer or insecticide

  • Booting to flowering (60–75 days): disease/pest/fertilizer

• Number of spray passes per crop: typically 2–3

2. Dry-season rice (Nov–Feb/Mar) – Only in irrigated areas

• Less widespread, more common in Central Thailand

• Similar spraying needs: 2–3 passes

3. Third crop ("off-season")

• Rare, only where irrigation is excellent and markets are strong

• Same spraying pattern again

---

📌 Practical Working Days per Year

Let’s assume:

• 2–3 sprayings per crop

• 2 crops per year (a common pattern in the Central and Northeast regions)

• Each spraying requires ~1 day per 100–200 rai

• If a drone team serves ~150 rai per day, then:

  • 1 farm = 3 spraying visits × 1 day = 3 days per crop

  • Multiply by 2 crops = 6 spray-days per farm per year

But no operator works only one farm—they rotate among many.

Let’s model a busy operator’s potential spray days:

Factor	Estimate
Spray season length	~3 months per crop (2 crops/year)
Suitable flying days/month	20 (rain, wind, & flooding reduce usable days)
Crops per year	2 (average)
Total usable spray days	~40–50 per year

Some well-connected operators might reach 60–70 days, especially if:

• They serve multiple villages

• They do other crops (e.g., sugarcane, cassava)

• They offer other services (e.g., spreading fertilizer or seeding)

---

💰 Is It Viable?

Let’s say:

• 40 working days/year

• Average of 150 rai/day

• At 60 baht/rai, that’s:

  • 150 × 60 = 9,000 baht/day

  • 9,000 × 40 = 360,000 baht/year

Out of that must come:

• Amortized cost of drone (150,000–300,000+ baht)

• Battery replacements

• Transport costs

• Maintenance/repairs

• Operator wages or personal income

So while it’s doable, it’s tight unless:

• You own your drone outright

• Minimize downtime

• Possibly expand to cover more crops or areas

---

📌 Side Note – Hidden Costs

Operators often:

• Need spare batteries (20,000–50,000 baht)

• Buy support gear: generator, battery charger, vehicle

• Have limited resale value on drones as tech ages fast

• Must self-insure for crashes or loss

---

🚀 Ways Some Operators Expand Viability

• Offer drone leasing or pilot-for-hire services

• Add fertilizer spreading, re-seeding, or pest control

• Create cooperatives to reduce idle time

• Target high-value crops (e.g., fruit orchards, vegetables)

[Hummin]

Sometimes I wonder how they calculate their revenue and profits in Thailand. 

 

Working hours and time spent on travelling to and from sites  is not often included in their calculations. And accommodation is often camping or at the back of a truck. 

[Hummin]

I looked in to buing a few different sized excavators and did the math compared to the local prices, and honestly non of them can make any money on private projects if you include normal service cycles and spares as well transport. 

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

Oh no.....guy in the village has just invested his life's savings in one of these!!!!!

[Will B Good]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Despite the setback, Mr. Theerapol said he fully supports the government’s decision, citing national security as a top priority. “If it’s for the safety and stability of our country, then we must accept it,” he said.

 

 

I find that very hard to believe.