Bangkok: The National Environment Board is advancing efforts to mitigate PM2.5 dust by targeting sugar factories with a focus on reducing the burnt sugarcane ratio. The initiative is set to commence today with the opening of sugar mills across the country.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Government Spokesperson Ms. Lalida Periswiwattana announced progress on measures to curb PM2.5 dust from the agricultural sector. This follows a recent meeting of the Cane and Sugar Committee (CSC), which resolved to schedule the sugarcane crushing season for 2025/26 based on the proportion of “burned sugarcane” each factory produces. The approach aims to encourage farmers to cut fresh sugarcane and minimize burning, a primary contributor to PM2.5 dust. Specifically, 17 factories classified in Group 2, with a burned sugarcane ratio between 5.01% and 15.00%, will start operations today, playing a significant role in reducing sugarcane burning in key agricultural regions.
The sugar mills are organized into groups based on the percentage of burnt sugarcane they receive:
– Group 1: Factories with no more than 5% burnt sugarcane began operations on 1 December 2025, encompassing 9 factories.
– Group 2: Factories with 5.01-15% burnt sugarcane open today, 6 December 2025, including 17 factories.
– Group 3: Factories with 15.01-25% burnt sugarcane will open on 8 December 2025, comprising 30 factories.
– Group 4: Factories with over 25.01% burnt sugarcane are scheduled to open on 11 January 2026, involving 2 factories.
This year marks the inaugural implementation of the Sugarcane Authority of Thailand’s (SAT) percentage-based scheme to reduce sugarcane burning, aiming for tangible results across all sectors.
The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) projects that in the 2025/26 season, over 93 million tons of sugarcane will be crushed, representing a 1.9% increase from the previous year. This growth is attributed to favorable rainy season conditions enhancing production. The final average price of sugarcane nationwide stands at 1,152.62 baht per ton.