Sugarcane Farmers & Sugar Mills Cut PM2.5, Burned Sugarcane at 3.80%

Matichon•General•18d ago

Reader Briefing

Collaborative efforts by sugarcane farmers and sugar mills have successfully reduced PM2.5 pollution, with burned sugarcane accounting for only 3.80% of the processed sugar. This achievement falls below the government's set target.

•Sugarcane farmers and sugar mills in Thailand have partnered to reduce PM2.5 air pollution.
•The rate of burned sugarcane entering sugar mills for the 2025/2026 production season was 3.80%, which is below the set target.
•The Department of Industrial Works reported that 58 factories in 29 provinces processed over 105.86 million tons of sugarcane.
•Despite challenges like labor shortages and drought, the burning of sugarcane was controlled, meeting the target.

Overview

•The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, praised sugarcane farmers and sugar mills for their tangible efforts in reducing PM2.5 dust.
•The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Air Pollution Solve Command Center (ศกพ.) of the Pollution Control Department, is monitoring efforts to combat air pollution.
•Following the 2025/2026 production season, only 3.80% of sugarcane processed was burned, which is below the set benchmark.
•The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's policy stipulated that no more than 10% of burned sugarcane should be accepted to control PM2.5 dust.
•The production season ran from December 2, 2025, to May 3, 2026, during which 58 factories across 29 provinces processed a total of over 105.86 million tons of sugarcane.
•Of the total sugarcane processed, 101.84 million tons were fresh sugarcane, and 4.02 million tons (3.80%) were burned sugarcane.
•Six factories reported having less than 1% burned sugarcane, indicating a high level of success.
•This achievement reflects the cooperation of all sectors in minimizing environmental and public health impacts, even amidst labor shortages and drought.

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Key Quotes

Suchart Chomklin

"After closing the 2025/2026 production season, burned sugarcane entering factories was only 3.80%, below the specified target."

หลังปิดหีบฤดูกาลผลิตปี 2025/2026 พบอ้อยไฟไหม้เข้าโรงงานเพียง 3.80% ต่ำกว่าเกณฑ์ที่กำหนด

Surin Warorakitthamrong

"The policy sets a limit of no more than 10% for accepting burned sugarcane to control PM2.5 dust throughout the production season."

นโยบายกำหนดให้รับอ้อยไฟไหม้ไม่เกิน 10% เพื่อควบคุมฝุ่น PM2.5 ตลอดฤดูกาลผลิต

Key Entities

Organization

Sugarcane Farmers(ชาวไร่อ้อย)

Groups of individuals who cultivate sugarcane and are involved in reducing air pollution.

Sugar Mills(โรงงานน้ำตาล)

Industrial facilities that process sugarcane and are cooperating to reduce PM2.5 emissions.

Air Pollution Solve Command Center (ศกพ.)(ศูนย์สื่อสารการแก้ไขปัญหามลพิษทางอากาศ (ศกพ.))

A center under the Department of Pollution Control that monitors and addresses air pollution issues.

Pollution Control Department(กรมควบคุมมลพิษ)ℹ️

A government department responsible for monitoring and controlling pollution in Thailand.

Ratchasima Sugar Factory (Ang Wien)(โรงงานน้ำตาลราชสีมา (อ่างเวียน))

A specific sugar mill that achieved the lowest proportion of burned sugarcane.

Person

Suchart Chomklin(นายสุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)ℹ️

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment who praised the efforts in reducing PM2.5.

Surin Warorakitthamrong(นายสุรินทร์ วรกิจธำรง)

Director-General of the Pollution Control Department who stated the policy regarding burned sugarcane.