Page 13 - Cost-Benefit Analysis of agricultural waste management methods

Abstract

When managing of agricultural waste from the cultivations of rice, maize and sugarcane,
it is important to balance economic growth with environmental impacts, such as smog. This

research studies 1) the agricultural waste situation and related policies,
2) burning of agricultural waste in agricultural areas, 3) cost- benefit analysis of waste

management in plowing, production of organic fertilizers and electric power generation, and

4) suggests an alternative policy on agricultural waste management in Thailand. A mixed
method have been applied in this research including interviews, group discussions, Geographic

Information System analysis, and Cost-Benefit analysis. Greenhouse gas reduction has been
included in the cost benefit analysis.

The results of the research show that around 114 million tons of agricultural waste

were burned across Thailand in 2022. The area of rice, maize and sugarcane cultivations that
were burned was estimated to be 552, 175 and 156 hundred thousand rai respectively. (1 rai

= 0.16 hectares) Most of the rice and maize fields were burned in the northern region, while

sugarcane fields mostly in the central region. Cost-benefit analysis revealed that organic
composting provided the best return for agricultural waste from the cultivation of rice and

maize. Meanwhile, electrical power generation is best for managing agricultural waste from

sugarcane cultivation. Therefore, agricultural waste management policy should be modified
that encourages farmers to use the agricultural waste for organic fertilizers and plowing. That

encouragement needs to come with a long-term financial support so that sustainable
behavioural change is achieved.

Keywords Agricultural waste management, Cost-benefit analysis, Burning in agricultural areas,

Greenhouse gas emission, Agricultural waste management policy

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