Stop The Burning
The Shredder Initiative
A Simple Solution to a Toxic Problem
สโมสรโรตารี่ลำปาง ได้รณรงค์ให้เกษตรกรหันมาทำปุ๋ยอินทรีย์จากวัสดุเหลือใช้ทางการเกษตร ดีกว่าการเอาไปเผาทิ้งที่ก่อให้เกิดปัญหามลภาวะทางอากาศในทุกๆปี
โครงการพัฒนาเศรฐกิจสำหรับชุมชนนี้ เริ่มจากการบดวัสดุดังกล่าวให้เป็นชิ้นเล็กๆแล้วนำเชื้อจุลินทรีย์ และสารอินทรีย์อื่นๆมาผสม จนกลายเป็นปุ๋ย
Air pollution causes almost one million deaths worldwide each year, according to the latest data from the World Health Organisation. Southeast Asia faces the greatest burden where the majority of these deaths occur.
These latest findings hit close to home in Northern Thailand where, despite promises from local and national authorities for cleaner and safer air, over 60,000 pollution-related hospitalizations in Chiang Mai alone, over a period of 20 days, in March 2016, suggest that the situation has exceeded any safety thresholds.
Haze
Each year between January and April, dry-season aridity and rising temperatures coincide with agricultural burning, forest fires (often started by crop reside burning) and other sources of pollution to blanket Northern Thailand in a layer of smoke, dust and gaseous pollutants like CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), CO (carbon monoxide), N2O (nitrous oxide), NO (nitrogen oxides) and SO2 (sulfur dioxide). This is called haze. The minute dust particles and gaseous emissions can and do result in chronic health problems - cardiovascular disease, severe asthma, bronchitis, decreased lung function and more.
As much as 94% of the particles in haze are below 2.5 micrometers in diameter that is, particles that are 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
According to data posted to the Thai Pollution Control Department’s website, in Chiang Mai the 24-hour average PM2.5 levels have exceeded safe standards every day since February first.
Benefits of Shredding
Prosperity Amongst Farmers
Atmosphere/Recreational Value
Positive Health Effects
Increase in Soil Nutrients
Topsoil Protection
Conservation of biodiversity
Watershed value
Eco Tourism Value
Niche market value
Crop Burning
The problem is that the farmers have no alternative residue management capability. So sooner or later the residue is burnt.
But burning wasnt something they dreamed up out of thin air. It was encouraged by agricultural 'experts' as a quick and cheap way of clearing land, and of riddng the land of pests and weeds, Moreover, even though the residue was burnt the ashes still contaned some nutrients that would act as fertiliser. Alas, the benefits were overstated and in the pesent climate of monoculture, the practice of using land to grow just one crop year after year, the nutrient level and soil quality fell while air pollution increased.
Monoculture is widely used in modern industrial agriculture. It is argued that monoculture produces greater yields by utilizing plants' abilities to maximize growth under less pressure from other species and more uniform plant structure.
However, others argue that these plants are selected because of their ability to grow well under the specific conditions of a particular place, and therefore are at greater risk when these conditions change, for instance in extreme weather. Genetically diverse crops are likely to reduce the odds of massive crop failure and to contribute to greater stability of production.
Shred Instead
Whatever the rights and wrongs, nobody disputes that crop residue is a valuable, albeit under-utilized, resource. Thru the conversion of stubble to pellets of straw, residues can be turned into an energy source, fertilizer, mulching material, livestock feed or bedding, all of which can be used on the farm and any surpluses sold.
The Shredder Initiative offers a simple solution to a highly toxic problem. It is a comprehensive approach that embraces local input and expertise, together with a range of cultural practices, climactic conditions, landscapes, and soil diversity. Our studies suggest that shredding is the simplest, cleanest, healthiest and most cost effective alternative to agricultural burning.
Our field tests show that farmers can shred 13 kilos of biomass in 4 minutes, or 1.5 tons in 8 hours at an engine fuel cost of just $0.025 per kilo or $2.50 per ton. 1.5 tons of residue can be recovered from 2.2 rai or 0.87 acres of land.
Costs of Burning
Poverty Amongst Farmers
Air Pollution
Chronic Health Effects
Soil Degradation
Topsoil loss
Surface/ground water pollution
Forest Loss
Tourism Drops
No Niche market value
Shredder Share
Sharing shredders among farmers will keep down the costs, help spread the word, engage interest from other farmers, and secure more sponsorship and support. As word spreads and the benefits can be seen - benefits to the soil, to the crop, to farmers’ incomes, their personal health and that of their families’ - the shredder should become a feature of every farm or farm cluster at a sustainable economic cost.
There are no downsides to not burning and no safety issues with shredded crop residue.
We have designed the Shredder to be completely suited to purpose, durable and portable - it fits onto the back of a pickup truck. This means that it can be shared by groups of farmers. From our own resources and donations we have now built two Shredders (and a third is being built). We call it the Rotary Shredder, since it describes the rotation of the blades and the fact that it is a Rotary initiative.
Each has now been tested in the fields. We carefully selected the testing groups. One is a group of 20 organic farmers with, in total, 71 acres of farmland. The other is a farming village comprising 25 farmers with 79 acres. Both are delighted with the results and excited by the potential.
But this quality and level of durability has a price. We can make the shredders for $3080. In the future, by employing scales of economy, as demand for the shredders rises, the price will drop.
Sustainability
Initially, we are allowing the farmers to use the shredders without charge because we must prove our model. The reality is that “free” is the best incentive to persuade farmers to change the habit of generations. The Rotary Club will retain ownership of the shredders and the farmers will pay for engine fuel and transportation between farms. The farmers must also agree to make the shredders available for other farmers to see and inspect. We will organize visiting days with other Rotary clubs and agricultural organizations, bringing hundreds of farmers to observe and learn the benefits of shredding for themselves.
However, we want our project to be sustainable and to pay for itself, because at some stage donations will run out. We can achieve this because the farmers can use the organic fertilized compost and humus that they make with the shredded residue and microbes to improve crop yield. They also avoid the need to purchase expensive commercial fertilizers. Importantly, farmers can sell surplus fertilizer in the market place. Commercial organic fertilizer retails at $425 to $567 per ton in Thailand, a not inconsiderable sum, making a collective farmer investment in the shredder a smart move.
Moreover, we are seeking to organise niche markets for their crop with The Shredder Guarantee - 100% organic, no chemicals, no pesticides, no burning, no haze. These young farmers are already finding that such branding helps sell their products - virthually immediately !
