Campaigns against slash-and-burn launched in Thai North

BANGKOK, February 25 (TNA) - In an attempt to prevent and eventually end the slash-and-burn problem in the Thai North to ease and eradicate haze blanketing the region, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has accelerated campaigns to seek public cooperation towards the goal. Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry Spokesman told journalists of the measures on February 24, elaborating that his ministry is determined to stop man-made forest fires in agricultural areas by launching four major campaigns. They include launching PR campaigns for the local agriculturists to stop burning outdoors, providing them with knowledge to cease burning in farming and forest areas, seeking cooperation from volunteers in nine Upper Thai North to help monitor slash-and-burn practices in their respective areas to prevent and contain the haze problem and building up networks in 1,210 villages nationwide to encourage local villagers to stop man-made forest fires. The spokesman said his ministry has assigned two agricultural offices in Chiang Mai Province in the Upper Thai North and Phitsanulok Province in the Lower Thai North to monitor the haze problem and send reports to his ministry. According to the spokesman, the number of royal rain-making operational centres have also been increased from two to five in almost all Thai regions, including in Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chantaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, to help ease the haze crux. (TNA)