Eco Lessons For Chiang Mai Farmers

[webfact]

Eco lessons for Chiang Mai farmers

By The Nation

Chiang Mai environmental authorities will visit local residents and explain how their slash-and-burn farming causes thick haze.

Regional Environment Office 1 Director Apiwat Kunarak said yesterday that since smog in Chiang Mai province would probably increase early next year if locals continued burning down after harvesting their crops.

He said since the global price of corn was very high, farmers were keen on cashing in, which means they employ the slash-and-burn tactic at least three times a year.

The office has approached members of local bicycle clubs to help spread knowledge about how the smog harms the health and environment. Farmers will also be provided with technology to produce gas and fertiliser from the agricultural remains.

The 70 members of the bicycle clubs would be divided into groups of five or 10 people, who will then go to meet the locals at home.

-- The Nation 2010-12-08