June 3, 2020

 

Thai chemical pesticide ban worries agricultural farmers

 

 

On Monday, Thailand imposed a ban on two agricultural chemicals - paraquat and chlorpyrifos - generally known as toxic to humans, which worried farmers that they will face losses, Reuters reported.

 

Many countries have already prohibited these two chemicals, which are found in pesticides or insecticides.

 

Some 10 million farming households in Thailand, one of the biggest exporters of natural rubber and sugar, use paraquat to kill weed on palm, rubber, sugarcane, corn, and cassava plantations.

 

"Without paraquat, Thai farmers will face losses in key crops, because there are no alternatives," said Sukan Sungwanna, secretary-general of the Federation of Safe Agriculture.

 

Thai farmers use chlorpyrifos to kill worms on fruit but can use alternatives.

 

The farmers' group last week submitted a petition to an administrative court to repeal the ban, which came into force on Monday after the chemicals were added to a Type 4 list on Thailand's Hazardous Substance Act last month.

 

That means their production, import, export, distribution and possession are banned. Flouting the rule could mean up to 10 years in jail or a fine of THB1 million (US$31,575.62), or both.

 

Thailand is also drafting regulation to impose a zero-tolerance policy on imported crops produced using the chemicals, sparking concern among local industry groups.

 

The food and livestock industries rely on wheat and soybean imports, mostly from the US and Brazil and they have asked the Thai government to instead maintain limits on maximum allowable chemical residues.

 

In November, Thailand reversed a ban on the herbicide glyphosate, allowing its use to continue within maximum residue limits (MRL) after the US government asked for the ban to be postponed.

 

Environmental campaigners welcomed the ban as a step towards sustainability. Non-profit group BioThai said human health should come before business.

 

"The ban is a transition to sustainable agriculture," said Witoon Lianchamroon, the group's director.