Rice farms will have to cut methane emissions
Researcher warns not to rush new policy
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Rice farmers across the country will be asked to comply with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's new policy to combat global warming by cutting methane emissions from paddy fields. A new greenhouse gases management agency will work out details of the scheme, which is expected to be operational within six months, the minister, Kasem Snidvongs, said yesterday.
''Methane emission from rice paddies is the top concern of the agency,'' Mr Kasem told a press conference.
Methane is a greenhouse gas which has the second greatest effect on climate change, after carbon dioxide. The concentration of methane in the atmosphere had almost tripled in the last 150 years, he said.
The heat-trapping gas is released into the atmosphere from a variety of sources including coal mines, landfills, natural gas production, rice paddies, livestock farming and mangrove forests.
''The problem of rising methane emissions could become a major hindrance to the country's development,'' Mr Kasem said.
''So, we need to urgently look into the matter and find means to reduce gas emissions.''
This would require cooperation from several agencies.
''We need to think about a new way of growing rice which uses less water. This would not only save water but reduce methane emissions at the same time,'' said Mr Kasem.
The Agriculture Department says methane comes mainly from rice paddies in irrigated areas where farmers flood their fields almost year-round, leading to fermentation of organic matter which releases the gas.
Recent research by Khon Kaen University's agriculture faculty found Thailand emits around 3.16 tonnes of methane per year, and 73% of the gas come from rice fields.
The researcher suggested gas emissions can be cut by more than half if farmers limit the period water is held in their paddy fields to 70 days.
A senior official from the Thailand Research Fund voiced concern at the ministry's move, warning it could hurt the agricultural sector.
''The ministry shouldn't take the methane issue as a main concern. It could put an agricultural country like Thailand at a disadvantage since the country might be forced to commit itself to the gas reduction,'' said the academic, who declined to be named.
Bangkok Post July 17, 2007