[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
PANUPS: Pesticide Use in Thailand
=====================================
P A N U P S
***
Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
http://www.panna.org/panna/
=====================================
March 25, 1997
Pesticide Use in Thailand
Thailand is currently one of the biggest users of pesticides
in the South Asia region. A project sponsored by the German
Technical Aid Agency (GTZ) and the University Pesticide
Policy Project is working with the Thai government to develop
and implement a more effective regulatory framework for
pesticide registration and use. The Pesticide Policy Project
has pioneered important economic analyses of the full costs
of pesticide use, including examining health and
environmental costs. They have released a report that the
Thai government will use to examine measures for policy
reform.
According to the report, Thailand is a major market for
pesticides with an annual growth rate between 1982 and 1992
of 8.8%. Since that time, the market has continued to grow
but at a somewhat slower rate. In 1994, sales amounted to
US$247 million. The herbicide market has grown rapidly in
recent years and is now 51% of sales. Insecticides are 38% of
the market while fungicides account for 10%.
Most pesticides are imported, and foreign companies hold the
biggest market share. Of the pesticides that are imported,
73% fall into World Health Organization categories Ia(
extremely hazardous) and Ib (highly hazardous). The three
main insecticides in use are the organophosphates
monocrotophos, methamidophos and methyl parathion, all
considered particularly hazardous under conditions of use in
developing countries.
The study concludes that many cases of pesticide poisoning
are never reported in Thailand and do not appear in
statistics. For example, a 1985 study concluded that only
2.4% of workers who have been poisoned by pesticides go to
the hospital. Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health
on occupational poisoning show a decrease from a high of
5,154 in 1989 to 3,165 in 1994, although there has been no
change in the type of pesticides used or the application
technology. The study estimated that there could be up to
39,600 pesticide poisoning cases a year, with total annual
health costs of about 13 million Baht (US$507,800).
Researchers found that approximately one half of Thai farmers
apply higher than recommended concentrations, do not pay
attention to labels, wear no protective clothing and do not
observe recommended intervals between spraying and harvest.
Government studies of pesticide residues in food conducted
between 1982 and 1985 found residues in 52% of 663 samples,
including DDT in 39% and dieldrin in 15%. A 1993 survey by
the National Environment Board found pesticide residues in
all soil samples, 86% of water samples, 32% of fruit, 25% of
vegetables and 17% of field crops.
Insect resistance to pesticides has become a major problem,
particularly in relation to the brown plant hopper in rice
production. Pest resistance in vegetables has led to an
overdosing of pesticides by up to eight times the recommended
rate. A recent study concluded that vegetable growers accept
that pests quickly build resistance, but see no alternatives.
Although there are no direct subsidies on pesticides in
Thailand, a number of factors encourage pesticide use. Low
import taxes have helped keep prices down. There is little
independent information or training and the extension service
focuses primarily of pesticide-based pest management. The
government keeps a budget for emergency outbreaks of pests,
generally using pesticides to contain the problem.
The Pesticide Policy Project study is important not only for
providing key information on the pesticide situation in
Thailand, but also for demonstrating the value of a
methodological framework. Such a framework may be useful to
other governments attempting to improve their infrastructure
for handling chemicals, making investment decisions, and
promoting safer alternatives.
Contact: Frauke Jungbluth, "Crop Protection Policy in
Thailand: Economic and Political Factors Influencing
Pesticide Use," Pesticide Policy Project, GTZ/University of
Hannover, Publication Series No. 5, Hannover, December 1996.
Fax (49-511) 762 2667.
Source: Pesticides News, March 1997. Pesticides News is a
publication of The Pesticides Trust, Eurolink Business
Centre, 49 Effra Road, London, SW2 1BZ, England; fax (441 71)
274-8895; email pesttrust@gn.apc.org.
===========================================================
| Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) |
| |
| Phone:(415) 541-9140 Fax:(415) 541-9253 |
| Email: panna@panna.org http://www.panna.org/panna/|
| PANNA, 116 New Montgomery, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
| |
|*To subscribe to PANUPS send email to MAJORDOMO@igc.apc.org|
| with the following text on one line: subscribe panups |
| To unsubscribe send the following: unsubscribe panups |
| |
|*For basic information about PANNA, send an email message |
| to panna-info@igc.apc.org |
===========================================================