Education Ministry to set example by banning two herbicides and one pesticide

[webfact]

Education Ministry to set example by banning two herbicides and one pesticide

 

 

The Ministry of Education will take the lead in banning the use of paraquat and glyphosate herbicides and chlorpyrifos pesticide in all 47 agricultural and fishery colleges under the ministry’s supervision.

 

Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said today (Thursday) that directors of the 47 colleges and herself had concurred that they should set an example for other institutions, in both the government and private sectors, by rejecting the use of the three toxic chemicals anywhere in food chain.

 

Since Thailand is one of the six largest food producers in the world, Khunying Kalaya said that the ban on the use of the chemicals, and the increased awareness of the safety of consumers among food producers, will be a boon to the country’s reputation and image.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/education-ministry-to-set-example-by-banning-two-herbicides-and-one-pesticide/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-09-13

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[PatOngo]

Why not the agriculture minister, has he no experience with dangerous chemicals?

 

 

[Muhendis]

4 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Why not the agriculture minister, has he no experience with dangerous chemicals?

 

 

The agriculture minister is trying to ban those chemicals but is faced with so called farmers who have no idea how else to deal with weeds and insects. Also there is big money involved with the herbicide and pestcide companies who will need time to get rid of current stocks and change to acceptable chemicals. Where money is involved, change happens slowly especially if certain palms are greased.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said today (Thursday) that directors of the 47 colleges and herself had concurred that they should set an example for other institutions, in both the government and private sectors, by rejecting the use of the three toxic chemicals anywhere in food chain.

A good example or common sense... if the government cannot do it from the top down due to certain influences... then from the bottom up is the next best option.

[unamazedloso]

Other chemicals are available and good old paid labor can pull weeds. We have a farm and never use those chemcials and make our own from natural ingredients like sadoa tree oil mixed with garlic and chilli. Keeps all bugs off.

And we plow, cutgrass and remove just some weeds by hand. Nothing to it...

[StevieAus]

6 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

Other chemicals are available and good old paid labor can pull weeds. We have a farm and never use those chemcials and make our own from natural ingredients like sadoa tree oil mixed with garlic and chilli. Keeps all bugs off.

And we plow, cutgrass and remove just some weeds by hand. Nothing to it...

I would be very interested in obtaining more details such as quantities etc if you don’t want to post could you email me direct

Thanks

[Kasset Tak]

The

7 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Why not the agriculture minister, has he no experience with dangerous chemicals?

 

 

They tried, but with companies like CP having too much power in Thailand they ultimately failed (you can compare it with any gun laws and NRA in US...)!
BTW, where I work (agricultural college) they have not used any of these chemicals since at least I started working here 4 years ago, they have been promoting organic, clean food without the use of chemicals, and if any pesticides have been used they are home brewed from plant materials and microorganisms. Only thing we basically have been allowed to use pesticides against is termites when they have started to destroying buildings.   

[Isaanbiker]

8 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Why not the agriculture minister, has he no experience with dangerous chemicals?

 

 

Have you ever seen a competent person in the right position here?

 

   You've gotta be related to a soldier, or be one. That's all. 

[Isaanbiker]

32 minutes ago, Kasset Tak said:

The

They tried, but with companies like CP having too much power in Thailand they ultimately failed (you can compare it with any gun laws and NRA in US...)!
BTW, where I work (agricultural college) they have not used any of these chemicals since at least I started working here 4 years ago, they have been promoting organic, clean food without the use of chemicals, and if any pesticides have been used they are home brewed from plant materials and microorganisms. Only thing we basically have been allowed to use pesticides against is termites when they have started to destroying buildings.   

Please visit some farmers in villages. They don't know much about chemicals at all. But we know that the education has failed miserably. 

 

   Doesn't all go back to the education that promotes marching in a funny boy scout uniform more than actually learning something that's important for life? 

[Srikcir]

I would think that Prayut as Head of Government and Chair of the Council of Ministers (aka Cabinet) would be required to approve Education Minister's ban on said chemicals.

As the Minister of Agriculture is still "reviewing" the ban, PM Prayut would want a uniform government position on any ban across all relevant ministries. Hence, I believe that the Education Minister's announcement can only be considered advisory and not mandatory and enforceable.

[londonthai]

8 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Why not the agriculture minister, has he no experience with dangerous chemicals?

 

 

the agriculture minister is busy selling heroin to australia. This chemical is far more dangerous and far more lucrative, than those 3 mentioned

[PatOngo]

27 minutes ago, londonthai said:

the agriculture minister is busy selling heroin to australia. This chemical is far more dangerous and far more lucrative, than those 3 mentioned

You got it.

[rickudon]

I think the big Agro-chemical companies didn't see that one coming. Never mind, their advisors will speak to the puppet master and a reshuffle of ministers will come soon!

[Cadbury]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The Ministry of Education will take the lead in banning the use of paraquat and glyphosate herbicides and chlorpyrifos pesticide in all 47 agricultural and fishery colleges under the ministry’s supervision.

Banning these chemicals in schools and colleges. What minute difference will that make? 

More likely the totally corrupt education ministry is making a not so subtle hint that it also wants some envelopes from the chemical producers, just like the agricultural ministry.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

You are miss informed. Thailand has an aging population and in most rural areas there are very few people around that are willing to pull weeds. At present we are paying B 500 per day for people to spray herbicide. No one we asked was prepared to pull weeds, not even at B 600 per day. As for productivity 1 person can spray about 7 to 10 rai per day. If you pull weeds it will take about 10 mandays to do the same work (B 500 x 10 = B 5000) vs chemicals (B 500 + B 1500 = B 2000). Do this 3 times a year and the cost of production increases by B 600 per rai. If you only net B 3000 per rai this increase is massive.
The other major problem is that many herbicides thats available in the US, UK and EU is not available here. Due to the extensive use of glyphosate and paraquat the chemical companies never registered these alternatives here. If these 2 herbicides are banned very few alternatives exists.
Lets go through a few alternatives. On rice and corn farmers will go from paraquat to 2,4d, MCPA and/or Diquat. Farmers will replace the use of glyphosate with Basta, 2,4d and a host of other products. Unfortunately many products named here are already banned in many other countries.
We farm with fruit trees and have been trying out alternatives. It is a nightmare. We will have to go from using 1 chemical to using 2 and from spraying once every 3 to 4 months to every 2 months. Many alternatives also leach into groundwater which we cannot allow as we rely on it for household consumption.
For city folks it looks simple but with available chemicals in the country is has become very complicated. Unfortunately the civil servants are clueless and are of no help to farmers.
The correct way to handle this ban would have been to indentify acceptable alternatives first and then register them for use inside the country. When sufficient stock are inside the country and farmers have been trained about the new products the ban can be effected. As things are going now it is a disaster in the making.

Other chemicals are available and good old paid labor can pull weeds. We have a farm and never use those chemcials and make our own from natural ingredients like sadoa tree oil mixed with garlic and chilli. Keeps all bugs off.
And we plow, cutgrass and remove just some weeds by hand. Nothing to it...

Sent from my SM-A730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Artisi]

27 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

You are miss informed. Thailand has an aging population and in most rural areas there are very few people around that are willing to pull weeds. At present we are paying B 500 per day for people to spray herbicide. No one we asked was prepared to pull weeds, not even at B 600 per day. As for productivity 1 person can spray about 7 to 10 rai per day. If you pull weeds it will take about 10 mandays to do the same work (B 500 x 10 = B 5000) vs chemicals (B 500 + B 1500 = B 2000). Do this 3 times a year and the cost of production increases by B 600 per rai. If you only net B 3000 per rai this increase is massive.
The other major problem is that many herbicides thats available in the US, UK and EU is not available here. Due to the extensive use of glyphosate and paraquat the chemical companies never registered these alternatives here. If these 2 herbicides are banned very few alternatives exists.
Lets go through a few alternatives. On rice and corn farmers will go from paraquat to 2,4d, MCPA and/or Diquat. Farmers will replace the use of glyphosate with Basta, 2,4d and a host of other products. Unfortunately many products named here are already banned in many other countries.
We farm with fruit trees and have been trying out alternatives. It is a nightmare. We will have to go from using 1 chemical to using 2 and from spraying once every 3 to 4 months to every 2 months. Many alternatives also leach into groundwater which we cannot allow as we rely on it for household consumption.
For city folks it looks simple but with available chemicals in the country is has become very complicated. Unfortunately the civil servants are clueless and are of no help to farmers.
The correct way to handle this ban would have been to indentify acceptable alternatives first and then register them for use inside the country. When sufficient stock are inside the country and farmers have been trained about the new products the ban can be effected. As things are going now it is a disaster in the making.

 

Sent from my SM-A730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Congratulations for putting together a good clear post, whether the info. is right or wrong I can't comment as it's not my field of experience, but at least what you are saying is understandable and certainly worth re-reading. 

[gunderhill]

4 hours ago, unamazedloso said:

and good old paid labor can pull weeds

No, they can't,  have you actually  any experience of trying to find anyone to do this lately?

In my location Prachuap Thais are  unwilling to do this work NO  MATTER what you pay them, they simply do  not want to work on the land.

Ok So Burmese  right? Nope they don't want to do it either anymore,they want factory jobs  only  now + all the hassle  of their work permits and their leaving after one month as they " dont like the job" means you have to go through the same monotonous routine with permits  again at quite some cost.

[gunderhill]

1 hour ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

You are miss informed. Thailand has an aging population and in most rural areas there are very few people around that are willing to pull weeds. At present we are paying B 500 per day for people to spray herbicide. No one we asked was prepared to pull weeds, not even at B 600 per day. As for productivity 1 person can spray about 7 to 10 rai per day. If you pull weeds it will take about 10 mandays to do the same work (B 500 x 10 = B 5000) vs chemicals (B 500 + B 1500 = B 2000). Do this 3 times a year and the cost of production increases by B 600 per rai. If you only net B 3000 per rai this increase is massive.
The other major problem is that many herbicides thats available in the US, UK and EU is not available here. Due to the extensive use of glyphosate and paraquat the chemical companies never registered these alternatives here. If these 2 herbicides are banned very few alternatives exists.
Lets go through a few alternatives. On rice and corn farmers will go from paraquat to 2,4d, MCPA and/or Diquat. Farmers will replace the use of glyphosate with Basta, 2,4d and a host of other products. Unfortunately many products named here are already banned in many other countries.
We farm with fruit trees and have been trying out alternatives. It is a nightmare. We will have to go from using 1 chemical to using 2 and from spraying once every 3 to 4 months to every 2 months. Many alternatives also leach into groundwater which we cannot allow as we rely on it for household consumption.
For city folks it looks simple but with available chemicals in the country is has become very complicated. Unfortunately the civil servants are clueless and are of no help to farmers.
The correct way to handle this ban would have been to indentify acceptable alternatives first and then register them for use inside the country. When sufficient stock are inside the country and farmers have been trained about the new products the ban can be effected. As things are going now it is a disaster in the making.

 

Sent from my SM-A730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Good , well informed reply, its  also a nightmare to find anyone to be just a caretaker on land now as  well, many people have absolutely no clue as to the current situation, Its  changed dramatically over the last 10  years from easy to find Burmese  labour to almost non existant.

Luckily after YEARS of searching we  have a  couple who are  very good and we  take  good  care of them BUT they are already 50 years  old, hopefully we can get 10 years use out of them but the lack of staff is now a major  issue. 

Maybe if the economy collapses they will return to the fields, but i doubt it.

I for one am stockpiling Gramoxone and Chloropyros, when correctly used ( and that's the main issue here) its fine. I actually  use very  little of either over the course of a year.

[NeoDinosaw]

Congratulations to Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich !  

 

It's a start. Hopefully more will follow her example.

[ICELANDMAN]

3 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

You are miss informed. Thailand has an aging population and in most rural areas there are very few people around that are willing to pull weeds. At present we are paying B 500 per day for people to spray herbicide. No one we asked was prepared to pull weeds, not even at B 600 per day. As for productivity 1 person can spray about 7 to 10 rai per day. If you pull weeds it will take about 10 mandays to do the same work (B 500 x 10 = B 5000) vs chemicals (B 500 + B 1500 = B 2000). Do this 3 times a year and the cost of production increases by B 600 per rai. If you only net B 3000 per rai this increase is massive.
The other major problem is that many herbicides thats available in the US, UK and EU is not available here. Due to the extensive use of glyphosate and paraquat the chemical companies never registered these alternatives here. If these 2 herbicides are banned very few alternatives exists.
Lets go through a few alternatives. On rice and corn farmers will go from paraquat to 2,4d, MCPA and/or Diquat. Farmers will replace the use of glyphosate with Basta, 2,4d and a host of other products. Unfortunately many products named here are already banned in many other countries.
We farm with fruit trees and have been trying out alternatives. It is a nightmare. We will have to go from using 1 chemical to using 2 and from spraying once every 3 to 4 months to every 2 months. Many alternatives also leach into groundwater which we cannot allow as we rely on it for household consumption.
For city folks it looks simple but with available chemicals in the country is has become very complicated. Unfortunately the civil servants are clueless and are of no help to farmers.
The correct way to handle this ban would have been to indentify acceptable alternatives first and then register them for use inside the country. When sufficient stock are inside the country and farmers have been trained about the new products the ban can be effected. As things are going now it is a disaster in the making.

 

Sent from my SM-A730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

For fruit trees the Thai have a natural and very simple solution for free, to my knowledge for lemons tree, I don't know if it also works for other fruit trees or maybe other solutions it will be lost in the Thai collective memory, one thing and certain that before these products so easy to spread they have damaged Thai farmers in the first place.

 

 

[canuckamuck]

Don't know what we will do when the glyphosate ban hits us, we don't use a lot, But we do need it for some particular weeds that  come back from the roots when pulled. We really did try try to go herbicide free this year, but we had an explosion of grasses after the rains came, and had no other choice.

Also we couldn't get much help this year. The ones we did get were nearly more harm than good, and you can't be sure when they are going to show up.

[emptypockets]

5 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

You are miss informed. Thailand has an aging population and in most rural areas there are very few people around that are willing to pull weeds. At present we are paying B 500 per day for people to spray herbicide. No one we asked was prepared to pull weeds, not even at B 600 per day. As for productivity 1 person can spray about 7 to 10 rai per day. If you pull weeds it will take about 10 mandays to do the same work (B 500 x 10 = B 5000) vs chemicals (B 500 + B 1500 = B 2000). Do this 3 times a year and the cost of production increases by B 600 per rai. If you only net B 3000 per rai this increase is massive.
The other major problem is that many herbicides thats available in the US, UK and EU is not available here. Due to the extensive use of glyphosate and paraquat the chemical companies never registered these alternatives here. If these 2 herbicides are banned very few alternatives exists.
Lets go through a few alternatives. On rice and corn farmers will go from paraquat to 2,4d, MCPA and/or Diquat. Farmers will replace the use of glyphosate with Basta, 2,4d and a host of other products. Unfortunately many products named here are already banned in many other countries.
We farm with fruit trees and have been trying out alternatives. It is a nightmare. We will have to go from using 1 chemical to using 2 and from spraying once every 3 to 4 months to every 2 months. Many alternatives also leach into groundwater which we cannot allow as we rely on it for household consumption.
For city folks it looks simple but with available chemicals in the country is has become very complicated. Unfortunately the civil servants are clueless and are of no help to farmers.
The correct way to handle this ban would have been to indentify acceptable alternatives first and then register them for use inside the country. When sufficient stock are inside the country and farmers have been trained about the new products the ban can be effected. As things are going now it is a disaster in the making.

 

Sent from my SM-A730F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Gee that'll get the faux greenie Fortuner driving, nightie shredding city slickers in a froth of rage. Wait until they see the price rises in the cost of food. Then they will blame the greedy farmers. Idiots.

[Chazar]

27 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Don't know what we will do when the glyphosate ban hits us, we don't use a lot, But we do need it for some particular weeds that  come back from the roots when pulled. We really did try try to go herbicide free this year, but we had an explosion of grasses after the rains came, and had no other choice.

Also we couldn't get much help this year. The ones we did get were nearly more harm than good, and you can't be sure when they are going to show up.

Same here,  5 of the last   7 years  has been very dry, weeds  have been minimal and pulled  by hand, last two years frequent  rain = weed  explosion combined with impossible staff situation and these  weeds  go from nothing to 2  metres in a  few  weeks. You want healthy veg then its going to cost......IF you can find someone to do it. 15 rai  up a  hill is not an easy job.