Offline·February 25, 2026 – February 25, 2026·Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand
On Wednesday, 25 February, the Southeast Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative (#SEACAI) project, implemented by #GIZThailand, visited its pilot area in Tha Ruea Sub-district, Pak Phli District, Nakhon Nayok Province, to consult with local agencies and communities on integrated PM2.5 management from rice straw and stubble burning. Participants included the Deputy District Chief of Pak Phli, officers from the Pak Phli District Agricultural Office, officers from the Land Development Station Nakhon Nayok, the Tha Ruea Sub-district Kamnan, village headmen from every village, and farmer representatives, all of whom play a vital role in managing land and livelihoods in the area.
The discussion surfaced real constraints that farmers face on the ground: farmland submerged for over 7 months of the year, long and tough floating rice straw and stubble that is difficult to manage, production costs that do not align with income, past challenges with machinery and microbial decomposition trials, and significant barriers to livelihood transition - with over 80% of farmers working as tenants, any change in land use carries financial burdens that cannot be overlooked.
At the same time, the conversation opened new perspectives. Converting rice straw into industrial biomass fuel was raised as a potentially viable economic solution - though further study is needed. For now, most farmers remain drawn to controlled burning (Fire Management) as the most practical, low-cost option for straw management. The SEACAI project will bring all findings and perspectives to the Joint Committee on PM2.5 Control and Management from Agricultural Burning between Bangkok and Nakhon Nayok to inform planning for the next steps.