Amid job-loss rumours over paraquat ban, minister says PM still backs him

By Natthapat Phromkaew, 
Jakrawan Salaytoo 
The Nation 

 

DEPUTY AGRICULTURE Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn

 

DEPUTY AGRICULTURE Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn has shrugged off rumours about his possible loss of a Cabinet portfolio over his fight against paraquat and other farm chemicals and says the prime minister supports him.
 

“I won’t be upset if I am kicked out,” Wiwat said yesterday. “And even if I lose my Cabinet post, I will still work for the same goal – just in a different position.” 

 

He was speaking after rumours spread over the past week that he would be removed from the Cabinet for persistently pushing for a total ban on three controversial agricultural chemicals – paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos.

 

Outside the Cabinet, Wiwat also chairs the Agri-Nature Foundation and several institutes dedicated to the sufficiency economy. 

 

But in his capacity as deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister, Wiwat has lately pledged to fight hard for the ban on the three widely used farm chemicals. He has also set a tangible goal of making 5 million rai (800,000 hectares) of farmland in Thailand chemical free.

 

“As I have promoted organic farming, I am, of course, against farm chemicals,” Wiwat said yesterday. 

 

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has shared the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture.

 

He said he joined the Cabinet because he wanted to help contribute to the country. 

 

“With the Cabinet post, I can do more for the causes,” he said. “Anyway, if I am removed from the Cabinet, my life may be more comfortable.” 

 

He said that Prayut had so far never criticised his work and had even asked him how rumours about his possible dismissal came out.

 

“The prime minister has also told me that my ministry’s work has improved a lot,” Wiwat said. 

 

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach, also denied rumours that Wiwat would be dismissed. 

 

“He’s not the weakness of the Cabinet. There’s no reason to remove him,” Grisada said. 

 

He also said he had assigned Wiwat to promote organic farming. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30354248

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-12

Being pro organic and anti carcigenous chemicals shold be the norm and not a reason to be kicked out. 

5 hours ago, zzidenn said:

Being pro organic and anti carcigenous chemicals shold be the norm and not a reason to be kicked out. 

In a normal country yes... but you're forgetting where you are!

I back the Effort AND the Man .. I am Familiar with these Chemicals - we can do better.

Glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are the backbone of industrialized farming globally. Without them the bugs and weeds would kill most crops. Its when American farmers are instructed to use a weed killer like Glyphosate as a drying agent and apply it just before harvest that there is a problem. 

 

One think the government should do is mandate masks and protective gear be sold at shops that sell the chemicals. Its actually quite hard to buy the correct mask for chlorpyrifos for example.

Good luck fella