Agricultural Residue Management to Replace Burning in Agricultural Areas in Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

     Agricultural burning has become a critical issue contributing to air pollution, environmental degradation, and adverse public health impacts. At the same time, agricultural residues possess significant potential for value-added utilization. Therefore, it is essential to examine farmers’ practices in agricultural residue management at the local level, particularly in Sakon Nakhon province, a hotspot area with a high incidence of fire occurrences. This would enhance understanding of farmers’ contexts and support the development of appropriate promotional strategies to achieve sustainable reductions in open burning. The objectives of this research were to study agricultural residue management to replace burning in agricultural areas in Sakon Nakhon province. This research employed a mixed-methods approach comprising:  1) Quantitative research, in which the population consisted of 300 farmers participating in the 2024 no-burning in agricultural areas project implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension. The sample size was determined by using Taro Yamane’s formula with a margin of error of 0.05, resulting in a sample of 172 farmers. A simple random sampling method was employed by lottery method to select participants. Data were collected by using structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics. 2) Qualitative research, with key informants included 10 individuals consisting of government officials responsible for supporting the no burning in agricultural areas project, community leaders, and farmer representatives. Data were collected through focus group discussions and analyzed by using content analysis. The results of the research found that (1) 64.0% of the farmers were male, with an average age of 56.31 years old. A total of 70.9% were not members of any farmer groups or organizations, had 20 years of farming experience, 77.3% cultivated rice, and 91.9% used plowing-in methods to manage agricultural residues. (2) Farmers possessed the highest level of knowledge regarding the impacts of burning in agricultural areas and agricultural residue management practices, particularly concerning environmental and health impacts. However, they still lacked technical knowledge related to residue utilization, such as compost production and biochar production. (3) The overall level of agricultural residue management practices was moderate. Practices with high adoption levels included rice stubble and straw incorporation, mulching, and the use of residues as animal feed. Practices requiring additional labor or technological inputs, such as incorporation combined with bio-extracts and straw baling, were adopted at a moderate level. In contrast, value-added practices such as residue processing, biomass marketing, and biochar production showed low adoption levels, reflecting constraints related to markets, technology, and investment costs. (4) Farmers received the highest level of support for agricultural residue management to replace burning, particularly through continuous campaigns and demonstration activities. (5) Farmers experienced a high level of problems, including weak enforcement of burning prohibition regulations, labor shortages, high management costs, limited market opportunities, and restricted access to agricultural machinery. (6) Farmers strongly agreed with the proposed promotion strategies, particularly the development of markets for residue-based products, targeted extension approaches, the development of model farmers, the provision of practical and low-cost technical knowledge, the promotion of farmer groups for machinery sharing, and the development of local markets.