5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land.

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century.

 

 

Progressive reform on burning - green harvesting

https://youtu.be/thXstqQcdQ4?si=yExPfXaED66a4vyP

 

This is an absolute travesty, and fall squarely on the tiny shoulders of the do nothing administration. They're absolute unwillingness to do anything about this situation is an abomination and the list of things that could be done to address this problem are countless.

 

They could start by pulling over diesel vehicles spewing out enormous clouds of black smoke, but that would require the highway patrol to actually do some work, which they utterly refuse to do.

 

They could then get the provincial authorities to crack down on the heinous crop burning that's going on with sugar and rice, which is being perpetrated by farmers who have zero regard for their country nor their neighbors. Crack down on them hard and set an example. For the first offense with a small fine, much larger fines for a second offense and massive fines for the third offense. Word would get around and Farmers would start using more environment mentally friendly techniques even though they required more work.

 

Also, the provincial authorities don't seem to care one iota, and even if they care they don't seem to be capable of policing the areas, and even if they were capable of placing the areas they don't seem to have the conviction to impose large enough fines to stop these farmers.

 

In essence these farmers are practicing a form of terrorism against their own people, they are killing people, they are putting people in the hospital, they are shortening lives, and they are making life miserable for a significant portion of the nation, simply because it's easier and less expensive to burn. The degree to which the smoke is toxic is unfathomable. it is the absolute epitome of self-absorption and zero concern for others. These farmers need to be punished in a very expensive and convincing manner. 

 

If the government cared one iota which they don't, they would start convincing farmers to switch crops and start moving away from 16th century crops like rice and sugar, moving toward more progressive crops which are potentially more profitable. If they felt the need to stick with rice and sugar they could educate the public on how those crops can be processed without burning, and subsidize the purchase of the required equipment. 

 

Then they can move on to tackle the sale of diesel vehicles, and the government's enthusiastic support of such. It is inane in this day and age. Most nations are moving away from diesel for good reasons. When they are not well maintained, they foul the air, with large, nasty particles. And who properly maintains their vehicle here?

 

Where are you living to come up with those 3 brainstorming ideas, in your condo in a city of concrete? Sounds to me you have not traveled too much and see that burning goes on in many other countries. Have you ever thought in your spare time, the air pollution in Thailand may be coming from surrounding countries, such a Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and even China.

1 hour ago, cdulaney said:

Where are you living to come up with those 3 brainstorming ideas, in your condo in a city of concrete? Sounds to me you have not traveled too much and see that burning goes on in many other countries. Have you ever thought in your spare time, the air pollution in Thailand may be coming from surrounding countries, such a Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and even China.

Some of the air pollution in Thailand comes from neighboring countries no doubt but a lot of it comes from the burning of sugar and other crops. There is ample reason why it's against the law to burn crops in Thailand, however those laws simply are never enforced. 

 

I realize the alternative can be expensive and burning is the most efficient way to handle this as far as the farmers are concerned, however it truly is a form of domestic terrorism against their fellow Thais, and the damage that the burning causes is on another level, healthwise. 

 

It is incumbent upon the government to establish programs to encourage farmers to plant alternative crops, of which there are many, most of which are more profitable than rice and sugar. Rice is a 19th century crop. 

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Some of the air pollution in Thailand comes from neighboring countries no doubt but a lot of it comes from the burning of sugar and other crops. There is ample reason why it's against the law to burn crops in Thailand, however those laws simply are never enforced. 

 

I realize the alternative can be expensive and burning is the most efficient way to handle this as far as the farmers are concerned, however it truly is a form of domestic terrorism against their fellow Thais, and the damage that the burning causes is on another level, healthwise. 

 

It is incumbent upon the government to establish programs to encourage farmers to plant alternative crops, of which there are many, most of which are more profitable than rice and sugar. Rice is a 19th century crop. 

Per Google search. 

Rice is Thailand's main food export, and the country has been a leading global exporter for over a decade.

The sugar industry is increasingly reliant on exports, with roughly 75% of sugar production being exported.

 

As you can see per the data it is not easy to change from one crop to another especially with the industry is geared up for the harvest and shipping. 

22 hours ago, patman30 said:

you just get off the plane?
there is no "lessee" as they rarely have contracts for this unless large scale
and even then you cannot prove the lessee is responsible
you can punish people for actions they did not commit and/or were not aware of.

Throw hundreds of innocent people into the slammer.....that's your suggestion.

Your logic:
Landlord rents out property
Tenant commits crime
Landlord is responsible and punishable for crimes tenant committed.

You do understand how absurd that sounds.
 

After having lived here for only 40 years I can attest, that all such sublets are done in writing, on governmental forms stipulating the ....... lessee and the lessor. It states, how much is paid for which land plot (title deed number), validity and what the lessee is permitted to do on the leased land. Usually such contracts run from 1 January to 30 December, leaving the 31 December "contract free". Like this, it is every year a new lease; smarter landlords even change the lessee on a yearly basis. Root of this is, that if a lessee has leased the land for X number of years, he has legally speaking a better claim - this is all the more important, if the lessee is an in-law. 

It remains the responsibility of the lessor to know the lessee and to ensure that the lessee adheres to the law. Some contracts even stipulate, what happens in case of breaking the law. 

All this serves only to hammer it into those people who BREAK the law. If someone kills a person driving my car, it is MY insurance to take care of it and I, in turn, can take regress to the driver. 

You punish the landlord for the first irregularity with a fine and he will certainly ensure abiding to the law by his lessee. 

But do-gooders and tree huggers like you are possibly the reason, why Thailand goes up in smoke on a yearly basis for the last 25+ years. When I came, there were very few selected spots, where stateless immigrants on a slash-and-burn basis tried to make a living; now the close airports and have tens of thousands seeking medical help for respiratory reasons. 

Got it now? 

18 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

After having lived here for only 40 years I can attest, that all such sublets are done in writing

you cannot attest to anything, your presence doesn't make it so.
I live in a farming village
what you are spouting is utter nonsense

then you get completely confused,
and call me a do gooder and tree hugger thinking i somehow support monocrop farming
something i am completely against, unless organic.
and it has not been every year for the last 25 years, i have been here and seen
it never used to be anywhere near as bad as it is now
it increased a lot with the sugar cane subsidies

18 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

If someone kills a person driving my car

By your logic YOU go to prison, right?

LOL

On 11/14/2025 at 8:44 AM, patman30 said:

you cannot attest to anything, your presence doesn't make it so.
I live in a farming village
what you are spouting is utter nonsense

then you get completely confused,
and call me a do gooder and tree hugger thinking i somehow support monocrop farming
something i am completely against, unless organic.
and it has not been every year for the last 25 years, i have been here and seen
it never used to be anywhere near as bad as it is now
it increased a lot with the sugar cane subsidies

The world is definitely a better place with keyboard warriors like you. Stay in your farming village under the proverbial stone and enjoy whatever you're doing. 

We might have to agree to disagree on this and everybody doing a lease in writing on a template (in Thai) by the government, available at every stationery shop etc as a pre-print, is completely insane; as per your statement no lease agreements are needed. 

You're aware that the planet is round, right? 

8 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

The world is definitely a better place with keyboard warriors like you. Stay in your farming village under the proverbial stone and enjoy whatever you're doing. 

We might have to agree to disagree on this and everybody doing a lease in writing on a template (in Thai) by the government, available at every stationery shop etc as a pre-print, is completely insane; as per your statement no lease agreements are needed. 

You're aware that the planet is round, right? 

is all you got is ad hominems LOL

"ALL" land is not leased in writing
commonly typical is
the farmer farms the land and harvest is split 50/50
no contract, no lease.
We have personally done this with land we have up north but do not use
although we let Uncle next door have the money as he keeps an eye on the land for us.

Farmers typically do not lease plots of land paying upfront and taking all the risk,
many do not have the funds to do so.


 

On 11/15/2025 at 12:18 PM, patman30 said:

is all you got is ad hominems LOL

"ALL" land is not leased in writing
commonly typical is
the farmer farms the land and harvest is split 50/50
no contract, no lease.
We have personally done this with land we have up north but do not use
although we let Uncle next door have the money as he keeps an eye on the land for us.

Farmers typically do not lease plots of land paying upfront and taking all the risk,
many do not have the funds to do so.


 

Thus Spoke Zarathustra!