The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives aims to decrease burning in agricultural regions by 15 percent to combat the issue of PM2.5 dust pollution. They are also focusing on prohibiting the importation of crops, particularly corn, produced through burning techniques from neighboring countries to prevent cross-border PM2.5 contamination.
During the 2025/2026 production season, wildfires, haze, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remain a concern in Thailand's agricultural regions, as stated by deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit.
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Last year on July 22, the cabinet gave its approval for the second five-year National Agenda Action Plan focused on addressing the issue of air pollution caused by particulate matter.
For the 2025/2026 season, the government has collaborated with appropriate organizations to create strategies to prevent and reduce agricultural burning. The objective is to decrease agricultural burning nationwide by a minimum of 15 percent for key economic crops such as rice, maize, and sugar cane.
She mentioned that officials intend to oversee areas with high activity, areas that have been burned, and the amount of farm waste being recycled instead of burned. The plan includes four steps. The initial step involves monitoring, increasing awareness, and discouraging agricultural burning by utilizing satellite-based VIIRS data to monitor hotspots and burnt areas in real time, along with local awareness campaigns.
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If fires are found on agricultural land, those responsible will lose access to government aid and programs, and will face various penalties including warnings, delays in obtaining land-use permits, and possible loss of land-use rights. The next step involves the management of burning and utilization of agricultural residue, which is carried out through a regulated system outlining guidelines, techniques, timing, area restrictions, oversight procedures, and accountable parties for farmers.
The third step is to ban the import of agricultural items associated with burning from neighboring countries to decrease PM2.5 pollution, especially animal-feed corn.
This corn must be verified for traceability to ensure it has not been subjected to burning, to prevent the spread of PM2.5-related issues across borders.
The last initiative aims to encourage agricultural methods that do not involve burning on farms. In the 2026 budget, over 250 million baht was set aside for the implementation of 21 projects promoting no-burn agriculture.
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These projects include activities like stubble ploughing, creating organic fertilizers, managing agricultural waste, growing high-value crops, and advancing sustainable farming practices in hilly areas. The government department will also spread information and promote the rules and steps to prevent and manage open burning in farming regions for the 2025/2026 season, aiming to increase public knowledge.
Additionally, it will collaborate with appropriate local agencies to assist in the implementation of initiatives aimed at decreasing air pollution across the country. This is in order to promote a shift in public behavior and address environmental issues in a sustainable way in the long run.