Government considers corn import ban to combat PM2.5 dust pollution

[webfact]

 

A potential ban on corn imports from neighbouring countries next year is being considered by the government to tackle the escalating issue of PM2.5 fine dust pollution in the northern regions. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently visited Chiang Mai to assess the preventive actions and updates provided by government agencies regarding wildfire and haze prevention measures.

 

The prime minister has acknowledged discussions with the Cambodian and Laotian ministries, along with the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar army, regarding the issue. He expressed his concerns, questioning what measures could be implemented to prevent neighbouring countries from burning, without infringing on their sovereignty.

 

The Thai prime minister highlighted that the solution lies in prohibiting corn imports from neighbouring nations during the peak season. He even suggested an increased taxation system but expressed concerns that this might be dismissed by involved state agencies as mere talk. However, he stressed the urgent need to take these measures seriously and announced that corn imports would be banned from January to April next year.

The 62 year old PM acknowledged that the PM2.5 dust pollution issue stems from economic problems. Farmers resort to burning to dispose of agricultural waste and prepare land for new cultivation. Some rural villagers also burn forests in search of wild supplies.

Thus, PM Srettha emphasised the necessity for innovative solutions and military cooperation in managing agricultural waste to prevent farmers from burning it. He also underscored the importance of educating farmers to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge.

 

The Bangkok-born premier revealed that additional funding for wildfire prevention and extinguishing has been approved by the government recently. He also discussed the issue of traffic congestion, another contributing factor to PM2.5, with the transport minister and other agencies.

 

Even though the fine dust levels were reported to be lower at certain points this year compared to the previous year, PM Srettha admitted that some provinces, including Chiang Mai, have experienced a surge in fine dust levels, reaching global peaks. However, hotspots decreased to a third of the previous year’s numbers, reported Bangkok Post.

 

As per IQAir, Chiang Mai topped the list of the world’s 10 cities with the highest levels of air pollution. The list also included Lahore in Pakistan, Beijing in China, Delhi in India, and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Pattarapong Chapattarasill

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-18

 

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[Rampant Rabbit]

anything but actually sort  out the very easy problem of  stopping their own burners.........which they can "never"  find

[dinsdale]

They just find other markets. Smoke continues and the price of corn in Thailand goes up or is this a little too simplistic.

[dinsdale]

42 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

anything but actually sort  out the very easy problem of  stopping their own burners.........which they can "never"  find

As you can see from this map if there were absolutely zero fires in Thailand there would still be a very big problem.

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@106.8,16.1,5.4z

Edited March 18 by dinsdale

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

As you can see from this map if there were absolutely zero fires in Thailand there would still be a very big problem.

 

well aware, but telling other countries what to do will do nothing

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

well aware, but telling other countries what to do will do nothing

So do nothing in this regards is the way. I also believe it's not telling them but

 

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

The prime minister has acknowledged discussions with the Cambodian and Laotian ministries, along with the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar army, regarding the issue. He expressed his concerns, questioning what measures could be implemented to prevent neighbouring countries from burning, without infringing on their sovereignty.

So overall it's a far from simple matter be it in Thailand or the neighbouring countries.

[Rampant Rabbit]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

So do nothing in this regards is the way. I also believe it's not telling them but

 

So overall it's a far from simple matter be it in Thailand or the neighbouring countries.

i  think we  both know  nothing  will change

[mtraveler]

1- I think that it's a good solution to let offending countries know that Thailand will ban imports.  Will those countries find other outlets for their products?  Who knows.  But at least you're doing the right thing.  

 

2- To the person who looked at the map, and said that even if there were no fires in Thailand, there would still be a problem...

 

a- Local smoke still affects people locally.  Even if there were none coming over the border, if you're living next to an offender, you're breathing bad air. 

b- When I look at the map, fires in Thailand look pretty awful.  Maybe not as concentrated as Northern Burma or Cambodia, but there's a lot of fires.

c- You make the assumption that all the smoke from those fires are blowing into Thailand all the time.  Which I doubt.  

 

 

[chralis]

Burn any farmer who starts burning. Just soak the MF with diesel and throw him in his fire.

 

Do it with a couple of them and there will be no fire anymore. They need to be treated as animals/viruses that they are.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The 62 year old PM acknowledged that the PM2.5 dust pollution issue stems from economic problems.

BS... It comes from a lack of law enforcement.

[Sqoop]

Step 1. Ban the processing of any burned sugar cane with heavy fines. 

[Tarteso]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He also underscored the importance of educating farmers to equip them with the necessary skills and 

Blah blah

[PETERTHEEATER]

Yawn........

[kidneyw]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

He even suggested an increased taxation system but expressed concerns that this might be dismissed by involved state agencies as mere talk.

Yep, they know Thailand is good at that.

[fondue zoo]

 

It's always the vegetable you least suspect.

 

 

 

[rickudon]

Interesting map, the area with the least fires is NE Thailand. Isaan is showing the way! 

[john donson]

how is imported corn related to pm25?  animal feed and leftover plant does not get burned ?