The official launch of the TGC EMC Biomass Project in Nakhon Sawan

On 8 October 2024, GIZ Thailand, in collaboration with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), held a kick-off event to launch the TGC EMC project: the Biomass component of the Thai-German Cooperation in Energy, Mobility, and Climate (TGC EMC Biomass) in its pilot province of Nakhon Sawan. The event was aimed at raising public awareness of the project’s objectives in promoting the effective management of agricultural residues from rice and sugarcane for conversion into biomass energy, reducing GHG emissions and air pollution from agricultural burning, and diversifying sources of income for smallholder farmers in Thailand.

Tawee Sermpakdeekul, Governor of Nakhon Sawan province, presided over the event, which took place at Kong Sabiang Farm in Nakhon Sawan. Together with Dr Kanjana Kwanmuang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE); Dr Chitnucha Buddhaboon, Deputy Director-General of the Rice Department (RD); Krongsak Songraksa, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DoAE); and Badin Kasemsarn, Nakhon Sawan Vice Governor, the event was attended by over 150 distinguished guests from government agencies, the private sector, and local farmers who gathered to be part of the launch.

Group photo of participants in the TGC EMC Biomass kick-off event at Kong Sabiang Farm in Nakhon Sawan

Tawee Sermpakdeekul, Governor of Nakhon Sawan province, giving the opening remarks

Nakhon Sawan is one of the provinces with the highest rice and sugarcane cultivation in Thailand, resulting in a substantial amount of residue from rice straw and sugarcane leaves. Tawee Sermpakdeekul emphasised the importance of utilising these resources, such as converting residues into biomass fuel to generate electricity or heat in industry or biomass power plants. This not only increases the value of these resources, but also helps reduce pollution caused by open-air burning, and provides farmers with an alternative source of income to improve their livelihoods.

“Nakhon Sawan is fully prepared and delighted to be part of this project. We have suitable resources in agriculture and energy processing, as well as cooperation from various stakeholders to help ensure the project achieves its set goals,” Tawee stated during the opening remarks.

The event featured a discussion aimed at raising awareness of the environmental impacts caused by burning in the agricultural sector, while promoting knowledge on increasing the share of renewable energy through the management of agricultural residues for various beneficial uses, and included pathways to generate income for farmers. Notable guest speakers from various institutions and agencies came to share their expertise and experiences, including:

• Assoc. Prof. Nipon Poapongsakorn from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), presenting ‘Climate-smart Management of Agricultural Residues’
• Suwaree Sameepetch, Manager of the Baan Thong Klong Organic Rice Community Enterprise Knowledge Centre, Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan, discussing ‘Learning from the Land: Rice Straw and Stubble Management in Organic Farming’
• Nawin Poomnak, Chairperson of the Mega Farm Project (rice) of Baan Nong Aor Village, sharing insights on ‘Lessons learned from creating a community business in selling rice straw’
• Assoc. Prof. Suneerat Fukuda from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), giving a presentation on ‘Clean Energy and Income Creation from Rice Straw and Sugarcane Leaves’
• Prin Siriwiriyakul, Factory Manager of Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation, addressing ‘Adding value to Agricultural Residues for Energy Production’

Assoc. Prof. Suneerat Fukuda and her session: ‘Clean Energy and Income Creation from Rice Straw and Sugarcane Leaves’

Lisa Faust (third from right), Project Manager of the TGC EMC Biomass component, with the five guest speakers.

In addition to the discussions led by farmers, and representatives of the public, academic and private sector, the event also provided a platform for local students and citizens to showcase their talents, including a performance of ‘TGC EMC: Thailand and Germany for Biomass Energy’ by students from the Chao Phraya University Cultural Arts Center, which creatively blended the Thai-German cooperation in biomass initiatives with Thai folk elements. The event also featured a farmers’ green market with over ten local smallholder farmer groups from across Nakhon Sawan presenting their community agricultural products, capturing the interest of event attendees.

Performance of ‘TGC EMC: Thailand and Germany for Biomass Energy’

Green market, where local farmers present and sell their products

Dr Timo Menniken, Country Director of GIZ Thailand, summarised the key next steps of the project, which include continuing local research and development on biomass energy conversion tailored at specific needs and resources; supporting policy frameworks that incentivise the deployment of biomass energy while reducing open-air burning; fostering networks among relevant stakeholders across all sectors; and promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly agricultural practices among farmers. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the project expects that the overall outcomes will contribute to achieving Thailand’s carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

Dr Timo Menniken, Country Director of GIZ Thailand, giving closing remarks

After the project’s successful launch in the morning, the project team, along with partners who attended the kick-off event, headed out in the afternoon to see a demonstration on post-harvest rice straw management. With generous support from the Baan Thong Klong Organic Rice Community Enterprise Knowledge Centre in Kao Liao District of Nakhon Sawan, the demonstration showcased straw baling and fresh straw mulching.

Dr Nittaya Cha-un sharing knowledge in rice straw management

A demonstration of rice straw baling, a non-burning rice straw practice

Group photo at the Baan Thong Klong Organic Rice Community Enterprise Knowledge Centre

GIZ Thailand team visiting Pasaan, the iconic buildings at the beginning of the Chao Phraya River

The launch of the TGC EMC Biomass project went smoothly and left a lasting, positive impression. This marked a significant first step that illustrates the potential arising from the collaboration of all sectors with a shared goal.