Following through on his promise, Warawut, Minister of Industry, has submitted a Cabinet proposal to compensate three groups of sugarcane farmers in the 2024/25 crop year who harvest fresh cane without burning, to help reduce PM 2.5 dust, totaling 477 million baht. Farmers are asked to await the Cabinet's decision this afternoon.
On 23 June 2026 at Government House, Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, said ahead of the Cabinet meeting that today the Ministry of Industry is proposing the Cabinet reconsider its resolution from 17 June 2025 regarding assistance measures for sugarcane farmers harvesting high-quality fresh cane to reduce PM 2.5 during the 2024/25 crop season. The proposal aims to expand assistance from the originally approved 5.175 billion baht budget, which covered only farmers with 100% high-quality fresh cane. The Ministry requests Cabinet approval for additional aid for 4,667 contracts involving 6.91 million tons of 100% high-quality fresh cane, totaling 477.04 million baht.
The first group consists of sugarcane farmers whose cane is unburned but contains contaminants up to 5%; the excess contaminants will be deducted and payment made only for the clean portion. This group covers 1,053 contracts, with 5.96 million tons of cane, and assistance totaling 411.10 million baht.
The second group includes farmers delivering 100% fresh cane to ethanol production plants, covering 3,505 contracts. Assistance for this ethanol group totals 62.34 million baht, with over 900,000 tons of cane.
The third group comprises farmers supplying 100% fresh cane to brown sugar factories, with 109 contracts and assistance totaling 3.61 million baht.
This additional budget of 477.04 million baht remains within the previously approved Cabinet budget framework. The Ministry of Industry has expedited this matter for Cabinet consideration today. Sugarcane farmers are asked to await the Cabinet's decision this afternoon.