Interior Ministry to use straw bales to reduce air pollution created by crop burning

[webfact 78,259]

Interior Ministry to use straw bales to reduce air pollution created by crop burning

By THE NATION

 

 

The Interior Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with Siam Kubota Corporation and the Rang Jorakhe district administration office in Ayutthaya province under a “Straw Bales for Zero Burn” campaign aimed at reducing air pollution, especially PM2.5 dust particles, that are caused by farmers burning their leftover crops to prepare for the next cultivation season, Deputy Interior Minister Nipon Bunyamanee said on Tuesday.

 

“Under this campaign, Siam Kubota will provide rice harvesting machines that are capable of making rice straw bales to selected farmers in Ayutthaya so they no longer need to burn their fields after harvest,” he said.

 

“The straw bales will be sold to Siam Cement Group, which will use them as biomass fuel in their cement manufacturing factories.

 

“The straw bales, when used as fuel, produce lower emissions than fossil fuels and therefore help reduce greenhouse gas and lessen the environmental impact,” Nipon said.

 

“Furthermore, under this project, farmers will earn extra income from straw bales instead of burning their fields, which is not only dangerous and environmentally hazardous but also a waste of time and marketable materials,” he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398925

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-02

 

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[canopus1969 7,766]

Help me someone, this seems to make sense - what's the catch?

[4MyEgo 14,770]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

“Under this campaign, Siam Kubota will provide rice harvesting machines that are capable of making rice straw bales to selected farmers in Ayutthaya so they no longer need to burn their fields after harvest,” he said.

 

Brilliant idea, spread the love.

 

Too bad they are a lazy lot from top to bottom, no enforcement of fines, cops turning a blind eye, while they all poison their fellow Thai's from young to old, not to mention farangs living here too.

Edited December 2, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[Kwasaki 10,580]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

to selected farmers in Ayutthaya so they no longer need to burn their fields after harvest,

and the rest the country will continue with burning that's a good idea.

[lopburi3 9,860]

7 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Help me someone, this seems to make sense - what's the catch?

Quote

selected farmers in Ayutthaya

In other words no requirement to use or buy such machines - a limited number to be provided to selected farmers in one district of one province of the country (which Google can not even find).

[Greenside 1,457]

It's taken long enough to get to something that sounds like it might have a chance of lessening the smoke, let's keep our fingers crossed that Kubota and the local Powers That Be are able to provide the support necessary support to keep a scheme like this running.  Timely maintenance of the machinery and people on hand to prevent farmers taking the easy way out will be essential.

 

I understood that the machines were on loan, surely requiring farmers to buy them would be the kiss of death to the idea which is a pilot in my view.  If it works then money from SCG and a contribution from Kubota's PR or advertising budget should be well on the way to providing machines to local co-ops who could take care of their own areas.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Greenside

[johng 17,123]

At long last some  positive action that may actually make a difference 

[worgeordie 44,495]

OK, now what about a solution for the burning of the forests 

which is the main source of air pollution up here in the North,

when villagers burn the forest litter so they can find the mushrooms

when the rainy season returns again.. 

 

It won't be long now before the burning starts and have not

heard of any solutions put forward by local Government.

regards Worgeordie

[IraqRon 472]

Rice straw bales can also be effective wall materials for buildings.  I used them to construct a smallish bungalow style house about 7 years ago.  The render is red clay and sand mix.  It withstood the earthquatke with no cracking of the walls and render.  Cooler in hot weather as no heat build up like concrete block wall and the current tenant says warm in winter as well.  Less expensive than concrete blocks and lighter in overall rendered weight.  Quiet too.

I understand that a group in Chiang Rai, Ban Din Dang I believe, is building one now.  Need to pay a visit.

[Dumbastheycome 5,697]

Several years back a local sugar harvesting contractor was baling the waste after taking the cane and selling  large round  bales to the sugar mill for similar purpose. His two  round  balers have sat idle for two years and the  local annual black snow falls are back.

While this  new scheme sounds  good in principle and  it is obviously a token measure perhaps it is designed to attract attention to a wider solution ? Unfortunately the traditional quick "accidental" fire solution with endure regardless if there is no enforcement of laws prohibiting it.

 

[johng 17,123]

47 minutes ago, IraqRon said:

Rice straw bales can also be effective wall materials for buildings. 

What about the insect and rodent problem did you use some chemical treatment of the straw ?

[DirtyHarry55 1,282]

Quote

“Straw Bales for Zero Burn” campaign

 

and
 

Quote

Siam Cement Group, which will use them as biomass fuel

Seems they will be burnt after all
 

Why not just plough it back into the dirt as natural compost there's no need to burn fuel transporting to be burnt as fuel

Are they obsessed with burning?

My neighbor burns their garden waste I put mine on a compost after 6 months I have great quality black dirt no need to buy dirt.

[Dumbastheycome 5,697]

3 minutes ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

 

and
 

Seems they will be burnt after all
 

Why not just plough it back into the dirt as natural compost there's no need to burn fuel transporting to be burnt as fuel

Are they obsessed with burning?

My neighbor burns their garden waste I put mine on a compost after 6 months I have great quality black dirt no need to buy dirt.

Rice straw is extremely difficult to "plough under" because it is extrmely tough and stringy . It also  does  not naturally decompose quickly in the dry season.

With the increasing use of  machines to harvest IMO an attached chaff cutter on the disharge  from such machines  would  enable it to be ploughed under. A better solution all round.

[Surelynot 7,532]

Whatever they provide will be a drop in the ocean... the equipment either won't work, or the farmers won't know how to work it, or if there are maintenance problems who will solve them?....just burnt stubble....... it is so easy.

 

Also, the vast majority of the pollution seems to come from sugar cane burning not rice.

 

Sticking plaster at best.....waste of time and money at worse.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Surelynot

[trainman34014 15,081]

3 hours ago, johng said:

At long last some  positive action that may actually make a difference 

It means that someone has realised there is money to be made out of doing something; otherwise nothing would continue to be done !