In 1952 (B.E. 2495), a Royal Decree established the “Agricultural Economics and Land Division” under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. The division was composed of two sections: the Land Use Planning Section and the Research and Statistics Section.
In 1954 (B.E. 2497), a Royal Decree changed its name to the “Division of Agricultural Economics,” consisting of three sections: Agricultural Production Economics, Agricultural Statistics Compilation, and Survey and Research.
In 1957 (B.E. 2500), a Royal Decree further restructured the Division of Agricultural Economics by adding two more sections: the Project Control Section and the Agricultural Production Evaluation Section.
In 1972 (B.E. 2515), the Division of Agricultural Economics conducted studies and analyses to designate Agro-Economic Zones using various factors such as soil types according to the Great Soil Group, rainfall distribution, temperature, types of crops grown, average yield per rai of rice and key economic crops, and the proportion of farmers’ income in each province. Based on these variables, Thailand was divided into 19 zones, known as Agro-Economic Zones. In the same year, a Revolutionary Council Announcement restructured government agencies under the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture by separating the “Project Control Section” from the Division of Agricultural Economics and upgrading it to the “Planning Division.” Additionally, the 19 Agro-Economic Zones were officially designated.
In 1973 (B.E. 2516), the Cabinet approved the establishment of the Agricultural Statistics Center under the Division of Agricultural Economics, responsible for collecting all types of agricultural data.
In 1977 (B.E. 2520), a ministerial order reorganized the Division of Agricultural Economics into four units: Agricultural Economics Coordination Division, Agricultural Policy and Planning Division, Agricultural Economics Research Division, and the Agricultural Statistics Center.
On March 24, 1979 (B.E. 2522), a Royal Act upgraded the Division of Agricultural Economics to the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. A Royal Decree defined its organizational structure into six divisions: Office of the Secretary-General, Agricultural Policy and Planning Division, Evaluation Division, Planning Division, Agricultural Economics Research Division, and the Agricultural Statistics Center.
According to the Agricultural Economics Act, B.E. 2522 (1979), the term “Agro-Economic Zone” refers to a designated agricultural production area—including livestock and forestry—suitable for market conditions and Thailand’s agricultural economy, taking into account similarities in key factors such as soil, climate, water resources, crops, livestock, type of agriculture, and primary income of farmers.
In 1983 (B.E. 2526), the OAE restructured the Agro-Economic Zone work by assigning officials to all 19 zones, with the zones placed under the supervision of the Secretary-General of the OAE. The aim was to reduce the cost of deploying central staff to the regions and to have representatives of the OAE operate in the regions, replicating the central office’s working model.
In 1987 (B.E. 2530), the Cabinet acknowledged the expansion of the Agro-Economic Zones to 24, to better manage wide-area zones and improve efficiency in operations.
In 1996 (B.E. 2539), a Royal Decree restructured the OAE into two divisions and three bureaus: the Office of the Secretary-General, Evaluation Division, Agricultural Information Center, Agricultural Policy and Planning Bureau, and Agricultural Economics Research Bureau.
In 2002 (B.E. 2545), the zones were reorganized into 9 regional offices, named Office of Agricultural Economics Region 1 to 9.
In 2013 (B.E. 2556), three more zones were added, expanding to 12 regional offices.
In 2014 (B.E. 2557), the zones were reorganized to align with 18 government inspection areas, resulting in the establishment of Office of Agricultural Economics Regions 1 to 18. The official opening ceremony was held on July 1, 2014, and full operation began on October 1, 2014.
In 2015 (B.E. 2558), the name was changed to Office of Agricultural Economics Region 1, with its responsibilities remaining the same.
In October 2016 (B.E. 2559), the regional offices were restructured again, resulting in Office of Agricultural Economics Regions 1 to 12.
Currently, the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 1 is responsible for the provinces of Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, and Chiang Rai, with the main office located in Chiang Mai Province.