The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has advanced in agricultural innovation with the successful completion of the “Agro-meteorological Forecasts and Advisories through Mobile Application and Social Media for Climate-smart Agriculture” (AFAS) project.
Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative expands smallholder farmers’ access to digital technologies and science-based advice in Thailand and Vietnam – helping strengthen sustainable farming practices, improve food security, and build resilience to climate variability. The project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The project was spearheaded by Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu, Project Principal Investigator and Associate Professor in the Agricultural Systems and Engineering program at the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (DFANR), with support from PhD student Mr. Shubham Anil Gade. Baseline surveys identified a critical challenge: low adoption of digital tools among smallholder farmers and widespread dissatisfaction with existing, often unreliable weather information that hindered informed decision-making.
A central achievement of AFAS is the development and rollout of the ClimaFarm mobile application, now available on Android and iOS. Designed to bridge information gaps, ClimaFarm delivers localized, timely agro-meteorological forecasts; critical alerts such as monsoon onset; and actionable, crop-specific agronomic advice. The app also enables farmer inputs that strengthen participation and decision-making. Its guidance is grounded in AIT research, integrating laboratory findings on agronomic practices into advisory algorithms that translate complex data into clear recommendations for sustainable farm management.
The project’s impact is both measurable and meaningful. More than 1,000 smallholder farmers across Thailand and Vietnam were trained to use ClimaFarm. An end-line survey showed a 92.2% continued-use rate among trained participants, with over 85% recommending the app to fellow farmers. Users reported tangible benefits, including reduced farm costs, greater confidence in crop management, prevention of losses, and enhanced knowledge exchange via the app’s community features.
Beyond technology deployment, the project deepened partnerships with local communities and agri-business stakeholders to improve decision-making through digital tools. To broaden its reach, AFAS and ClimaFarm were showcased at events, including the GMS Digital Innovation & Co-Creation Workshop in Thailand and the “2025 Discover Jiangsu Hohai University International Summer Program” in Nanjing, China, as well as at various institutional forums – underscoring the project’s relevance to regional development priorities.
