Protesters to petition PM for pesticide ban

About 700 members of hundreds of civic groups will rally outside Government House today in protest against a decision to allow the continued use of three toxic pesticides for farming.

Witoon Lienchamroon, head of Biothai, a conservation group, said rally-goers from 369 public organisations will assemble at 7am at Wat Benchamabophit in Dusit district before moving on Government House.

A petition will be submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House, he said.

The Hazardous Substance Committee last month voted to allow the continued use of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos but under tightened regulations. However, the decision came under fierce criticism from social activists.

Mr Witoon said the petition calls on the prime minister to overturn the committee’s decision and ban the three pesticides. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will be called upon to share information about safe alternatives for farmers, he said.

The government, he said, will also be urged to compensate affected by the toxic chemicals with money drawn from tax collected from their suppliers.

Dusit Athinuwat, assistant dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Thammasat University, said the three pesticides are commonly used by farmers because they are inexpensive and produce quick results.

However, they could have a severely adverse impact on the health of farmers and consumers as well as hurt the environment in the long run, said Mr Dusit, who is an expert in plant diseases and organic farming management.

Many countries around the world have banned these pesticides for more than a decade and used alternatives instead as they are concerned about people’s quality of life and the environmental impact, he said.

The government must roll out measures to regulate the use of these chemicals, Mr Dusit said, for example, farmers who wish to use these hazardous chemicals must obtain licences.

Farmers must be educated about the amount of pesticides they should use and how often, he said. They should also be advised on how they should dress when using these herbicides and what to do in the event they are affected by the toxic chemicals, Mr Dusit added.

According to the Department of Agriculture, 44,501 tonnes of paraquat, 3,700 tonnes of chlorpyrifos and 59,872 tonnes of glyphosate were imported into Thailand last year.