From the Thai traditional rocket festival to precision agriculture: When beliefs are challenged by climate change.

 

This is not a spacecraft launch. Instead, it is the annual launch of traditional Thai rockets — a tradition among the people of Yasothon Province and the Northeastern region. This tradition is not held solely for fun. Rather, it serves as  a source of encouragement before the start of the rice cultivation season.

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The traditional Thai rocket festival — Boon Duean 6 (the sixth month of the Thai lunar calendar) — follows the Isan traditions of Heet Sip Song and Kong Sip See, reflecting the agricultural way of life in Northeastern Thailand. In the past, predicting the weather was crucial, and daily life was closely tied to prayers for rain. However, the Northeastern plains are prone to drought. It is believed that if traditional Thai rockets are not launched to worship Phraya Thaen (the god of rain), the rains will not come in season, resulting in insufficient water for rice farming. Therefore, these traditional Thai rockets are considered a testament to the ingenuity of past generations, who devised a way to send objects into the sky using the force generated by burning fuel. This traditional belief has evolved into a form of local wisdom that has been passed down through generations.

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However, when considering the current water situation, it is during the start of the rice cultivation season. Data from the “Crops Drought” platform (https://cropsdrought.gistda.or.th/), developed by GISTDA, are used to monitor crop water usage and assess drought-risk areas using satellite data and geoinformatics. The data indicate that by the end of April 2026, water levels in almost all dams in Northeastern Thailand had begun to reach concerning levels. Water levels in most dams are below 50% of their storage capacity (excluding Sirindhorn Dam in Ubon Ratchathani Province and Nam Phung Dam in Sakon Nakhon Province), while overall reservoir levels stand at approximately 47% of total storage capacity, which is relatively low. Lam Ta Khong Dam currently holds only 33% of its storage capacity as of April 20, 2026. Furthermore, six-month drought forecasts indicate that several areas in Northeastern Thailand are likely to experience minor to moderate drought conditions in May, coinciding with the beginning of the rice planting season.

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In addition to low reservoir water levels, rainfall conditions are also a concern. A report from the Thai Meteorological Department in March indicated that there is more than a 60% chance that weather conditions will shift from neutral to an El Niño phase by mid-2026 (June–August). This condition could last for several months and intensify to a moderate-to-severe level toward the end of the rainy season (September–October). This would result in higher temperatures and below-average rainfall compared with 2025. Consequently, prolonged dry spells and more severe drought conditions may occur, affecting reservoir water reserves in 2027 and increasing the risk of sudden water shortages for rice farming in some areas. As is widely known, the rainy season is a crucial period for rice growth. Prolonged dry spells combined with high temperatures can cause water stress in rice plants, stunting growth, reducing yield and quality, and negatively affecting farmers’ income, potentially making rice production unprofitable.

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The changing weather patterns are making crop forecasting more difficult. Traditional farming methods that rely solely on rainfall may no longer be sufficient. The key question is how farmers can cope with this situation. Satellite data is now being integrated with geospatial information to support farmers’ decision-making. The “Dragonfly” application, developed by GISTDA, provides access to spatial technology that supports agricultural planning and management from planting to harvesting and marketing, using a range of tools divided into two main groups as follows:

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Feature group 1: Stay informed about weather conditions, market prices, and yield forecasts to support data-driven agricultural planning.

 

- Weather data from the Thai Meteorological Department provides hourly and 7-day forecasts, covering temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind direction, and cloud movement. It also issues alerts for rice farmers regarding critical farming periods, including pre-planting, pre-fertilizing, and pre-harvest storage.

 

- Agricultural product prices from the Ministry of Commerce, which regulates commodity prices, support farmers in marketing decisions and income planning.

 

- Satellite-based disaster data (including floods, droughts, and hotspots) provides timely information on disaster occurrences in the field and within a 5-kilometer radius.

 

- Soil surface moisture and crop water requirement data from satellites improve field-level water management without the need for ground-based sensors.

 

- Rice and sugarcane yield forecasts provide pre-harvest trends estimates, increase, decrease, or stability, supporting decisions on fertilizer and water management adjustments.

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Feature Group 2: Knowing Your Plot, Knowing Your Crops — Aiming for Reduced Costs and Increased Yields

 

- Plot mapping using GPS coordinates creates a digital identity for registered farmers through the Farmbook, linked to the registry of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

 

- Weekly crop health monitoring system enables early detection and response to field conditions without the need to physically inspect entire plots. Data is updated every five days using cloud-free satellite imagery and advanced analysis. A color-coded map visualizes crop health, with dark green indicating healthy growth, yellow indicating moderate stress, and red indicating severe stress affecting growth.

 

- Nitrogen fertilizer recommendation system for rice farmers allows users to specify planting date and target yield in order to calculate optimal fertilizer requirements at each growth stage, helping to reduce fertilizer costs throughout the rice-growing season.

 

- Soil condition data derived from the Department of Land Development’s datasets, combined with satellite imagery, are used to assess soil temperature and moisture, enabling farmers to continuously monitor changes in soil conditions.

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Overall, in the current situation, the Dragonfly application aims to serve as a trusted partner and compass for Thai farmers. It integrates satellite data, geoinformatics, and agricultural data from collaborating agencies, enabling farmers to input key agricultural information and supporting the shift from prediction-based farming to precision agriculture.

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Traditional rockets will continue to be launched annually as a cultural tradition to support farmers’ morale. However, in the face of increasingly uncertain and changing weather conditions, the livelihood of Thai farmers must not rely solely on rainfall. Instead, it should be based on data-driven decision-making, enabling farmers to reduce costs, increase productivity, and build long-term stability.

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If you’re interested, you can download the “Dragonfly” application on both the App Store and Play Store, or via the link below.

 

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/th/app/dragonfly/id1668939031?l=th

Google Play:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gistda.agriplatform