dtac and startup join force to launch personalised agricultural data service

dtac has teamed up with the agritech startup Ricult and Rak Ban Kerd Co (RBK) to develop agronomy services, which allow farmers to receive personalized weather forecast, health monitoring and crop advice.

The service, called Farm Man Yum or precision farming, was developed by the dtac accelerate startup, Ricult, which collects data from weather observation across the globe and assimilates into computer models. It stimulates the motions of atmosphere, using a complex system of mathematical equations.

The collaboration is hoped to alter Thailand’s agriculture landscape through strength of the parties. dtac and Rak Ban Kerd will be responsible for marketing, while Ricult will focus on product development, said  Alexandra Reich, CEO at dtac.

Boonchai Bencharongkul, chairman of Rak Ban Kerd Co, said Thai farmers have transformed themselves significantly, applying innovation and technology together with traditional knowledge. However, the worsening situation of climate change has posed a major threat on today’s agriculture, which is vigorously required a range of advanced technologies to cope with.

“Farm Man Yum service is a newly-developed in-app feature, enabling farmers to manage their farm lands in a timely manner in the midst of sector’s growing challenges. We hope that the service will liberate Thai farmers from vicious circle,” said Mr.Boonchai.

Aukrit Unahalekhaka, CEO and co-founder at Ricult Co, said the startup aims to become integral to the agriculture of tomorrow. The solutions to global problems like food shortage, malnourishment, poverty, rural unemployment need to start with smallholder farmers.

To give smallholder farmers the tools they need to be better informed and empowered economic actors – to work their way out of poverty.

“At Ricult, we built our entire business model around a simple insight: improving agricultural productivity and profitability is the only sustainable route to stronger rural communities. This is aligned with our vision of those who feed us, need us,” said Mr.Aukrit.

The 3 essential features include:Personalized weather forecast, Heath monitoring through satellite imagery and Crop advice.