Lessons Learned of Using Drone for Agriculture: A Case Study of Mega Farm Enterprises in Suphan Buri Province

Nowadays, farmers increasingly use agricultural drones for farming. Besides, a group of mega-farm enterprises in Suphan Buri Province has procured drones to provide services to local farmers. Therefore, this research has three objectives: 1) to investigate the state of using drone for agriculture, 2) to examine the lessons learned, and 3) to develop the potential of using agricultural drones employing mixed-methods research of quantitative and qualitative. The target group of this work consisted of 57 representatives from mega-farm enterprises. Data collection was operated using interview form, deep interview, group interview, and workshop. There were 48 responses for the distributed interview forms. The results revealed that 8 mega-farm enterprises obtained their agricultural drones through the support of the government. These drone services were provided both for the members of the groun and non-members alike. Meanwhile, some farmers from the other 40 groups used drone services from private companies within and outside the local area. The lessons learned can be divided into seven lessons, i.e., 1) a lesson from requesting budget support to procure drones for agriculture, 2) a lesson in determining to buy a drone for agriculture, 3) a lesson in recruiting and managing personnel's responsibility for controlling agricultural drones, 4) a lesson on drone service for agriculture, 5) a lesson on preparation before flying drones for agriculture, 6) a lesson on drone flying, and 7) a maintenance lesson after flying drones. The above lessons learned can further develop the potential of a group of mega-farm enterprises in Suphan Buri Province and other provinces.