Online app will enable volunteers to monitor Thailand’s ‘hazardous’ farm chemicals

Thailand’s Department of Disease Control and mobile phone service providers AIS are launching an online application to enable health volunteers and officials to monitor farmers’ use of the hazardous herbicide paraquat, and pesticides glyphosate and chlorpyrifos. In November, the National Hazardous Substances Committee cancelled a December 1 ban on glyphosate and delayed the enforcement of the ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos for six months.

The ban was controversial and the US stepped in, urging Thailand to reverse the bans, saying it would disrupt Thailand’s export of soybean, wheat, coffee, apples, grapes and other produce.

One UNSC official resigned in protest over the reversal and the Government opposition have weaponised the about-face as a tool to discredit the ruling parties. Environmentalists and health officials have demanded a complete ban on the importation and use of all three chemicals.

Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the DDC’s director-general and Veerawat Kiatpongthavorn, chief of business relations at Advance Wireless Network, an affiliate of AIS, signed an MoU yesterday where AWN will provide the mobile app for use by health volunteers.

Suwanchai says the department has always attached importance to improving the health and livelihood of farmers susceptible to the threats posed by farm chemicals. The information gained from surveying the use of the substances will enable the department to develop control and preventive measures.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World