Thailand is working to reduce the amount of burnt sugarcane during the 2024-25 harvest season by over 10% compared to last year. Officials have set a target of a 25% reduction, supported by incentives encouraging farmers to harvest fresh sugarcane instead of burning it.
According to the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), these efforts aim to increase farmers’ income by promoting the sale of sugarcane leaves and tops, which can be used in other industries. This plan also helps reduce air pollution, particularly PM 2.5 particles, which are harmful to health. “The initiative benefits not just the environment but also boosts economic activities,” said OCSB Secretary-General Bainoi Suwanchatree.
Farmers are receiving funds to sell sugarcane leaves and tops for use as fuel in power plants. This program highlights the value of sugarcane byproducts while discouraging burning practices.
For the 2024-25 season, sugarcane production is expected to reach 93 million tons, up from 82 million tons the previous year. By January 16, 2025, sugar mills across the country had processed 33.71 million tons of sugarcane. Of this, 81.28% was fresh sugarcane, while 18.72% was burnt sugarcane.
However, some mills still rely heavily on burnt sugarcane. Suphanburi Sugar Industry in Suphanburi province tops the list, with 51% of its sugarcane being burnt. Other mills with high burnt sugarcane levels include TN Sugar Mill (47%) and Thai Udon Thani Sugar Mill (43%).
Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Suphanburi, and Udon Thani provinces have the highest rates of sugarcane burning. Here, large-scale farming makes it difficult to harvest fresh sugarcane.
According to Bainoi, the favourable weather conditions experienced this year with a longer cold season and more rainfall have led to higher sugarcane yields with better sugar content, estimated at 11.77 CCS.
The burnt sugarcane accounted for about 30% of the total harvested last year. The efforts will further reduce burning, and both the environment and the economy will benefit from it.
