Bangkok: The government is partnering with META to provide free AI training to Thai farmers and SMEs, focusing on eliminating middlemen and enhancing direct community income.

According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced the collaboration with Meta, a global technology giant, to launch the "Digital Wings for Thai Farmers" project. This initiative aims to empower farmers and community entrepreneurs by leveraging AI technology and online tools, allowing them to sell directly to consumers without intermediaries. The effort is a joint initiative involving the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Meta's management team, aiming to advance the grassroots economy into the digital era.

The collaboration supports at least 2,000 Thai farmers and agricultural SMEs by offering free on-site and online training. Training includes the basics of establishing a business presence on Facebook and Instagram, creating engaging content, and advanced techniques to utilize Meta's AI tools to increase sales and expand their customer base directly.

The Deputy Spokesperson highlighted that a persistent issue for Thai farmers is profit reduction due to middlemen in the supply chain. This project is specifically designed to tackle this issue by focusing on building digital skills, enabling farmers to maximize their profits through direct sales and expanding opportunities into international markets.

Moreover, this initiative is part of Meta's broader campaign across 12 Asia-Pacific countries. The curriculum is tailored to the consumer behavior and context of Thailand, helping small businesses establish a strong online presence and generate direct income for families and communities.