Safety
Thai Agriculture Department Promotes Microbial Decomposition to Curb Crop Burning
Thailand's Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to use microbial agents to decompose rice stubble and straw instead of burning them, aiming to reduce PM2.5 pollution.
The Thai Department of Agriculture has launched an initiative to discourage the traditional practice of burning rice stubble and straw after harvest. According to Khaosod Online, the department is promoting the use of microbial agents to accelerate the decomposition of agricultural waste, a process that takes approximately five to seven days.
Supranee Manmai, a senior agricultural scientist at the Department of Agriculture, stated that this method serves as a sustainable alternative to burning, which is a significant contributor to seasonal haze and PM2.5 dust pollution. Beyond improving air quality, the application of these microbes is intended to restore soil health by increasing organic matter, improving water retention, and potentially lowering long-term production costs for farmers. The recommended application rate is 1 to 1.5 kilograms of microbial agent per rai, which can be supplemented with compost or urea if straw density is high.
For residents and travelers, this shift in agricultural practice is significant as it represents a government-led effort to mitigate the annual air quality issues that often affect various regions of Thailand. While the initiative offers a clear path toward reducing smoke-related pollution, the extent to which farmers will adopt these microbial solutions on a national scale remains to be confirmed. The department continues to position this as a viable strategy to balance agricultural productivity with environmental responsibility.