"OTOD Smart Living" drives rural digital shift in Thailand

Bangkok (VNA) - The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) of Thailand has launched a key initiative, the “One Tambon One Digital Smart Living” (OTOD Smart Living) project, aiming to usher in a new era of digital transformation for the country’s rural communities and agricultural sector.

At a press conference on May 21, Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of DEPA, announced the project as an evolution of the existing "One Tambon One Digital" (OTOD) programme, which has been in operation since 2023. The 2025 iteration focuses specifically on smart city development, leveraging technology to elevate the daily lives of villagers and foster more resilient communities. The programme seeks to enhance digital literacy, improve living standards, and unlock substantial economic benefits across the country.

The OTOD Smart Living project is structured into two main categories of support: Smart Living and Smart Living Plus.

Smart Living is a one-year initiative supporting 40 communities situated within the provinces designated as smart city promotion zones. These communities will benefit from the integration of five core technologies: smart agricultural tractors, solar-powered CCTV cameras, smart solar lighting, agricultural drones, and smart agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Smart Living Plus is a more advanced one-year programme targeting five communities already located within established smart cities. These selected communities will receive support for six technologies, including all the five from the Smart Living category, plus a dedicated agricultural carbon platform.

Nuttapon emphasised that the OTOD Smart Living project marks a crucial step in extending smart city development into rural Thailand. DEPA projects that the initiative will improve the digital knowledge and skills of at least 2,700 individuals across 900 households nationwide. This significant human capital development is anticipated to create an economic impact of no less than 170 million THB (5.19 million USD).

He highlighted DEPA's recognition of agriculture's vital role in the national economy, with over 50% of the Thai population, or more than 30 million people, involved in the sector.

However, he noted that this demographic often faces myriad challenges, including droughts, floods, high production costs, and volatile produce prices. Crucially, many communities and farmers have historically lacked appropriate digital support, hindering their access to essential technological knowledge.

The OTOD project, in its expanded form, aims squarely at resolving these pressing issues for farmers and communities throughout Thailand./.