Save our Lungs

The Bangkok Community Help Foundation (BCHF) is a remarkable organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting the less fortunate in society. Throughout the challenging times of COVID-19 and beyond, BCHF has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of over 2,000,000 individuals. With an incredible team of 700 volunteers working tirelessly seven days a week, the foundation provides vital assistance in various forms. They offer immediate relief through essential aid like food and first aid, while also focusing on long-term solutions such as education, community development, job placement, and more. To learn more about their incredible work, please visit bangkokcommunityhelp.org

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Air pollution is a critical issue affecting all of us, leading to significant health impacts. Recent studies by the University of Chicago's Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) indicate that fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens the average Thai resident's life expectancy by 1.8 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³ was met.

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A significant contributor to this pollution is the traditional practice of burning rice stubble to prepare fields for the next crop. In Thailand, approximately 70% of rice straw is burned annually, releasing substantial amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere.

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Farmers often resort to burning because it is the quickest method to clear fields within the limited 30-day window between harvests. However, this practice not only degrades soil health but also adversely affects the respiratory health of both locals and expatriates.

Innovations sometimes emerge unexpectedly. The SAS Group, in its efforts to enhance soil quality with a product called Soil Digest, discovered that it effectively decomposes rice stubble, eliminating the need for burning. This process returns valuable nutrients to the soil, leading to improved yields and a rejuvenated ecosystem, with increased presence of birds, frogs, and butterflies, and cleaner water sources.

Over the past 18 months, Thai RAIN has extensively tested this solution in collaboration with Winrock International, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their endorsement underscores the product's efficacy.

Each pack of Soil Digest retails for 350 baht and covers 5 rai. By activating the microbes for ten hours, coverage can increase fivefold. SAS has generously agreed to sell the product at cost to the Bangkok Community Help Foundation for 100 baht per pack, making the cost per rai only 20 baht—cheaper than alternative methods like using a tractor with a disc harrow. Farmers can save approximately 450 baht per rai on fertilizer and anticipate an average yield increase of 12%. While awareness is currently limited, we aim to change that with your support.

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