Govt moves to curb agricultural burning amid worsening air pollution

The government has taken steps to reduce air pollution caused by the burning of scrubland by farmers in preparation for the planting of new crops.
After PM2.5 levels rose to unhealthy heights last week, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued a directive on January 15 banning most forms of outdoor burning until April.
The ministry also called for faster fire detection using hotspot monitoring systems, and stronger coordination between relevant central and local government agencies.
It also urged the relevant agencies to expand the use of fire hotspot monitoring systems, respond more quickly, provide regular reports on fire impacts, and develop fire-risk maps to guide prevention efforts.
The air quality index has reached unhealthy levels, with PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) concentrations in Vientiane hitting 106 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding the safety threshold of 50 micrograms, underscoring a deepening pollution crisis linked to seasonal fires, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said on Monday.
Laos routinely grapples with fires during the dry season, particularly from slash-and-burn agriculture and uncontrolled burning to clear rice fields or grasslands, with dozens of hotspots detected across provinces each year.
In past seasons, wildfires have devastated large areas of forest — in some northern provinces up to half of forested land was reported burning in months of intense fire activity, exacerbating smog and threatening both human health and biodiversity.
Government officials say stricter controls on burning and quicker responses are critical to reducing air pollution, which poses significant risks to public health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, and threatens rural livelihoods dependent on clean air and land.
As the dry season advances, authorities urge local communities to comply with the restrictions and support fire-prevention campaigns aimed at protecting lives, livestock, and the biodiversity environment.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 22, 2026)