Vietnam's Pesticide Overreliance Dilemma: Lessons from Thai Farmers

In the rural villages of northeastern Thailand, farmers are trapped in a vicious cycle of pesticide overreliance, debt, and deteriorating health. Chuchart Srithachum, a 62-year-old, tragically lost his right leg due to exposure to the herbicide paraquat. Once a rice farmer cultivating vast paddy fields, his life took a devastating turn nine years ago when, during farm work, he experienced a strange tingling in his feet. This led to paraquat poisoning, causing chemical burns and a subsequent infection so severe that amputation was necessary to save his life. Paraquat, a widely used and potent herbicide, is highly toxic to humans. Skin contact can result in severe chemical burns. In northeastern Thailand, exposure to paraquat has been linked to necrotising fasciitis, a severe flesh-eating disease, leading to numerous cases of amputation and death among farmers. Chuchart's case was not isolated; when he was hospitalized in 2017, there were over 50 similar cases of severe chemical burns in the region. Another farmer, Natthanan Photiwong, suffered an infection after accidental exposure while spraying sugarcane, and though he avoided amputation, he has since ceased spraying herbicides himself. In response to these alarming incidents, civil society groups in Thailand launched campaigns to ban paraquat and other hazardous agrochemicals. Backed by growing scientific evidence, paraquat and chlorpyrifos were reclassified as Category 4 hazardous substances in June 2020, making their production, sale, use, and possession illegal. However, due to pressure from the US government and agrochemical manufacturers, glyphosate, while restricted, remains legal. The issue of pesticide use in Thailand persists. Recent tests by Thai-PAN (Thailand Pesticide Alert Network) at the end of 2024 found that 68% of fruits and vegetables sampled had pesticide residues exceeding government limits. This included carbendazim, a fungicide banned in many countries, which is linked to health risks such as infertility. The lack of proper training for farmers on the safe use of chemicals, coupled with the continued reliance on and overuse of agrochemicals, including alternatives to banned substances, remains a significant concern. This situation in Thailand offers critical lessons for Vietnam's agricultural policies. Vietnam, like Thailand, tends to rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to boost economic growth and food production. To prevent similar tragedies, strengthening regulations on pesticide use, enhancing farmer education on safe practices, and transitioning to more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural techniques are crucial. For Vietnam, with its one-party system enabling swift policy implementation, a more robust approach is needed to balance national economic goals with the long-term health of its citizens and the sustainability of its agricultural sector. Given its extensive border with China and significant agricultural trade, pesticide residue issues also directly impact food security in Vietnam. Source: Saigoneer