Bangkok, Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) together with the Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) or TGO signs a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. 'Developing a carbon credit management project' creates additional income for rubber farmers. Mr. Nakorn Takwiraphat, Governor of the Rubber Authority of Thailand and Mr. Kiatchai Maitriwong, Director of the Greenhouse Gas Management Organization Join in signing this ceremony to aim to achieve the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions. Ready to create additional income for rubber farmers, Mr. Nakorn said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives aims to support the creation of income for rubber farmers. In addition to producing natural rubber and rubber wood products By creating a source of income for farmers. Through the process of buying - selling and exchanging carbon credits. To raise the income and quality of life of farmers. Along with being socially and environmentally responsible, it is a base for absorbing gree nhouse gases in the agricultural sector. to achieve the goals set by the government According to the policy of carbon neutrality (Carbon neutrality) by 2050, to make Thailand a leader in ASEAN in reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. and achieve the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions (Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission) in 2065. Mr. Nakorn mentioned the memorandum of understanding of cooperation. This time that It will provide an opportunity to create additional income for rubber farmers. To be able to bring rubber trees that are in rubber plantation areas through the process of trading and exchanging carbon credits. along with environmental conservation In the past, RAOT has carried out a carbon credit management project and applied for registration as a pilot project with the TGO. There are rubber farmers in the areas of Chanthaburi Province, Loei Province, and Surat Thani Province. There are 2,299 participants, with more than 50,000 rai of participating rubber plantations. It is expe cted that the pilot project will be able to accumulate over 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) over a period of 7 years, worth over 390 million. baht. If a farmer has a rubber plantation of 1 rai, he or she will be able to store approximately 4 tons of carbon credits, generating income from selling carbon credits on average of 1,200 baht/rai, which is considered an additional income that farmers will receive from the rubber plantation area. In addition to selling rubber products only, RAOT is ready to push the rubber plantations to trade additional carbon credits and continue to comply with international standards. For the next step of operations, RAOT will work with the TAO to exchange information with researchers and agricultural academics with expertise. Including the use of high-precision technology to estimate the amount of carbon storage in rubber plantations. To achieve maximum efficiency and benefits, such as LiDAR technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellites, as well as se tting guidelines and activities to improve rubber plantation management. By extending the life of the rubber plantation by means of tapping high front tires. Using ethylene gas to accelerate latex and rubber tapping using a low frequency tapping system This will help extend the felling life for another 5-10 years and increase the amount of carbon storage in the rubber plantation. Along with reducing the amount of fertilizer used according to soil analysis values. which in addition to reducing capital It also increases income for farmers. Especially during this period when the price level of rubber has increased as well. In addition to encouraging farmers to use rubber plantations to trade carbon credits, RAOT has also laid out guidelines for finding a market to support from the private sector that has a desire to purchase carbon credits. Including building cooperation with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and the Federation of Thai Industries. in developing a carbon credit tradin g platform Supports carbon credit trading in the future 'Operating under the Memorandum of Understanding this time will help improve the quality of life and add another source of income for farmers. In addition to selling rubber raw materials It also creates social responsibility and environmental conservation. To absorb greenhouse gases from the agricultural sector By raising the level of solving climate problems in a concrete way To continue achieving the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions for Thailand,' Mr. Nakorn said. Mr. Kiatchai said There are currently more than 58 species of trees that can be sold for carbon credits, but they must be perennial species. The main thing is to look at the amount of wood because the wood is a carbon trap. As for the trading price for rubber farmer brothers and sisters Difficulty must be considered. Cost of growing If fellow rubber farmers are interested in selling carbon credits in rubber plantations. Must be registered with the Rubber Authority of Thailand. that had branches all over the country first It will take approximately 3 years from the start of the carbon credit project to be able to sell carbon credits because there must be a process of measurement and evaluation before selling. In the past, the BAAC had made a record for purchasing the most expensive carbon credits in the world at a community forest in Nong Ruea District, Khon Kaen Province, earlier this year at a price of 1 ton of carbon credits, 3,000 baht each. Source: Thai News Agency