Smart farms get boost as pilot project extended
The director of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Promotion Sarat Prakobchart announced this week the extension of the smart farm demonstration project that promotes the use of technology to increase the efficiency of energy usage to include farmers raising poultry, pigs, cattle and fish.
“This project will help farmers to access and use the benefits offered by modern agricultural technologies, especially renewable energy,” he said. “We have now opened the registration process for ranch owners to receive financial assistance from the energy conservation and promotion fund. We will select at least 30 farmers for the project divided into 4 categories: poultry, pig and cattle ranches, and aquatic animal farms.”
According to project’s rules and conditions, farmers who are qualified will be provided support up to Bt900,000 or not more than 30 per cent of investment.
“The maximum requirements per ranch are 50,000 poultry, 5,000 pigs or 500 cattle. As for aquatic animals, the selected farm must not be classified as a controlled building or factory under the Energy Conservation Promotion Act 1992 (revised 2007) to join the project,” he said.
Sarat added that his bureau will also send specialists to provide advice to the selected farmers.