As the first rice crop of the year enters the harvest season, the Environmental Protection Bureau, Nantou County Government will strengthen inspections throughout the harvesting period to prevent air pollution caused by the open burning of rice straw. The Bureau will also conduct outreach activities in villages across the county’s major rice-growing areas to promote environmentally friendly farming practices, including rice straw reuse and the application of straw-decomposing microbial agents. Farmers are encouraged to replace open burning with practical alternatives to help protect environmental quality and public health.
The Bureau noted that while the number of rice straw burning cases detected during harvest seasons has declined in recent years, some farmers continue to dispose of rice straw by burning it, affecting local air quality and posing risks to public safety. To further prevent open burning, the Bureau will conduct inspections before, during, and after the harvest season using drones and elevated AI surveillance cameras. Nighttime patrols will also be increased in rice-growing areas and known open-burning hotspots to expand monitoring coverage, strengthen enforcement, and deter illegal nighttime burning.
In addition, the Bureau will partner with local farmers’ associations and community development associations to hold outreach events in rice-producing areas across Nantou County. These events will explain the environmental impacts of open burning and introduce alternative methods for reusing rice straw, including incorporating straw directly into the soil as organic fertilizer, applying microbial decomposition agents to accelerate straw breakdown, and covering exposed soil to reduce dust emissions. As rice straw is a valuable source of organic matter, chopping and incorporating it into the soil or accelerating its decomposition with microbial agents can improve soil fertility while supporting agricultural resource circulation and environmental protection.
Director-general Yi-shu Li of the Bureau reiterated that maintaining good air quality is a shared responsibility and common goal for all residents. Farmers no longer need to burn rice straw, as practical alternatives, including on-site decomposition and other disposal options, are readily available. He reminded the public that anyone found illegally burning rice straw and causing air pollution may be fined between NT$1,200 and NT$100,000 in accordance with the Air Pollution Control Act. Such violations not only result in financial penalties but also pose serious health risks, making them not worth the cost.
