Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul revealed after chairing the signing ceremony for cooperation on controlling sugarcane and field crop burning to prevent fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) pollution that the Ministry of Industry, together with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, supports the government's green policy related to pollution and public health. He noted their commitment aligns with the slogan “Good Air Throughout the New Year.”Tags: [Anutin Charnvirakul, Ministry of Industry, PM 2.5, air pollution control, government policy]
Anutin said that moving forward, Thailand must consider enhancing efforts, even though past policies have been implemented successfully with dedication. In 2026, Thailand aims to further strengthen capabilities across all ministries and possibly expand the cooperation agreement by including new agencies such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and other relevant bodies.Tags: [Anutin Charnvirakul, inter-ministerial cooperation, policy enhancement, environmental agencies]
"I would like to thank the executives of the four ministries involved for their cooperation. I also thank citizens from all sectors, including sugarcane farmers, for cooperating with the government to improve the environment and air quality for the Thai people and the nation," Anutin said.Tags: [Anutin Charnvirakul, cooperation, public appreciation, environmental improvement]
Anutin acknowledged that over the past year, the government has strictly enforced reductions in field crop burning to lower pollution in various provinces. The challenge was to prevent increasing PM 2.5 pollution that affects citizens’ respiratory health. The policy showed that northern farmers fully succeeded by using legal measures to control field residue burning more effectively. Although not all burning was eliminated, data comparisons revealed a clear reduction.Tags: [Anutin Charnvirakul, pollution control, agricultural burning, respiratory health, northern Thailand]
Nattapol Rangsitpol, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, said that under measures to increase fresh-cut sugarcane deliveries to factories to reduce burning during the 2024/2025 production season, data from December 1 to 24 showed fresh sugarcane accounted for 98.21% of total cane processed. The ministry aims for 90% fresh cane throughout the season, with ongoing cooperation from farmers, sugar factories, and all relevant sectors.Tags: [Nattapol Rangsitpol, Ministry of Industry, fresh sugarcane, production season, burning reduction]
"We confirm that in the past 24 days, sugarcane burning was controlled to zero. We have also requested cooperation from all involved sectors to cut fresh sugarcane, aiming for zero burning from the New Year festival to Children’s Day to restore clean air for all Thais. The collaboration to solve sugarcane burning issues in the 2024/25 season will extend into the 2025/26 season to prevent PM 2.5 pollution," he added.Tags: [sugarcane burning, zero burning, air quality, New Year festival, Children’s Day, PM 2.5 prevention]
The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) will emphasize reducing sugarcane burning both before and after harvesting while minimizing PM 2.5 dust impacts through knowledge exchange, expertise, technology, and operational networks among agencies. This aims for long-term outcomes benefiting the economy, society, and environment, marking the next step for a more environmentally friendly sugarcane and sugar industry.Tags: [Cane and Sugar Board, sugarcane burning reduction, PM 2.5 mitigation, inter-agency cooperation, sustainable industry]
Additionally, there is a concept to promote performance-based financial incentives and use satellite imaging technology combined with meteorological data such as air pressure and wind direction. This approach aims to efficiently control sugarcane burning based on spatial management and the application of scientific, technological, and digital data.Tags: [financial incentives, satellite technology, meteorology, sugarcane burning control, digital technology]
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