Thailand launches PMUC Zero Burn to Earn programme to tackle farm burning and PM2.5 pollution

Thailand has launched a new initiative to address PM2.5 air pollution by incentivising farmers to stop open burning and convert agricultural waste into commercially useful products, the Pattaya Mail reported.

The programme, titled PMUC Zero Burn to Earn, was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat. It promotes market-based approaches and innovation as alternatives to enforcement-led strategies in tackling air pollution and energy challenges.

Under the scheme, farmers can exchange agricultural residues — including rice straw, corn stalks, wood debris, and plastic waste — for goods such as biodiesel, second-hand solar panels, and biomass mulch. The collected materials will be processed by research institutions and private companies into renewable energy and environmentally friendly products, creating an integrated value chain across multiple sectors.

The programme will begin with a pilot phase in Chiang Mai province, one of Thailand’s regions most severely affected by seasonal haze and agricultural burning. The model is built on cooperation between government agencies, universities, and the private sector, with economic incentives at its core rather than regulatory penalties alone.

Farmer registration for the programme is set to open on May 5, 2026, through a dedicated digital platform.