Pesticide: Fruit exporters need approval now

Pesticide methomyl poisonous to humans & animals but very small amounts in fruit imports allowed by Japan. Fruit export industry urgently needs it.

Photo above of a ripe mango cut open (Source: Wikipedia).

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Economics
AGRICULTURE

Mango growers push for pesticide to shield exports

4/07/2012
Post Reporters

Mango growers have called on the Agriculture Department to speed approval of a pesticide to protect more than 1 billion baht in exports.

Manop Kaewwongnukul, president of the Thai Mango Growers Association, said methomyl, the pesticide, is essential for mango orchards to guard against plant enemies, but it has been on the list of hazardous substances for a long time.

Extoxnet, a pesticide information network developed by a number of universities in the US, describes methomyl as a Restricted Use Pesticide that is highly toxic to humans.

"The Agriculture Department still refuses to register methomyl and that has led to a shortfall of the substance in the market," Mr Manop said at a seminar yesterday. "Now, growers have shifted to use substances that cost a lot more." 

According to Mr Manop, methomyl is accepted in many export markets worldwide, in particular Japan, a country well known for its strict import standards.

Thailand exports a total of 48,000 tonnes of mangoes a year worth around one billion baht. Japan imported about 1,300 tonnes of ripe mangoes in addition to about 3,000 tonnes of the fruit in frozen form.

The lack of official approval increases production costs not only of mangoes, but also of other export fruits, such as durians and mangosteens.

Banharn Wismitanant, assistant vice-president at CP Diamondstar Co, the fruit production and distribution unit of the CP Group, said methomyl could be considered a less hazardous pesticide because it leaves a low level of residue.

Japan has permitted its use, but it only allows residue equal to three parts per million, which is very low, he said. Mr Banharn encouraged the authorities to accelerate the registration procedure to protect over 100,000 households that farm mangoes on over 2 million rai nationwide.

An official from the department said the registration of methomyl will be granted once tests are completed and analytical results examined and deemed acceptable.

The chemical substance is prohibited together with three other hazardous chemicals used in farming due to the risks they pose to the health of animals and humans as well as the effects they have on the environment.

A subcommittee with representatives from academia, experts, and participants from non-governmental organisations will be formed soon to help the department develop proper usage instructions for the chemical once it is registered.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Economics, AGRICULTURE, Mango growers push for pesticide to shield exports, 4/07/2012, Post Reporters, link) 


Pesticide Vocabulary

pesticide - chemicals to kill insects that eat and destroy plants (See Wikipedia) ยาฆ่าแมลง

methomyl - an insecticide introduced in 1966 but use is restricted because of high toxicity to humans, "current primary use is on alfalfa for forage, The EU and UK have imposed these restrictions by allowing a maximum pesticide residue limit of 0.02 mg/kg for apples and oranges" (See Wikipedia)

toxic - poisonous and harmful to people, animals or the environment เป็นพิษ (toxicity is the level or degree to which something is poisonous)
residue - a small amount that remains after most has disappeared

network - a large system of connected parts, organisations, people, etc. เครือข่าย
information network
pesticide information network - a system where experts and people using pesticides share important knowledge (health effects, for example)
 
Extoxnet - "a collaborative effort of several US universities collecting pesticide information profiles, toxicology information briefs, and other factsheets and newsletters" (See Wikipedia)

plant enemies - things that causes disease in or destruction of plants, damaging or killing plants: 1. pests such as insects mites that affect plant health by infestation of crops and eating plant tissues (ectoparasites), to control pests farmers use pest control ; 2. plant pathogens that cause infectious disease such as "fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes and parasitic plants," 3. environmental conditions that damage plants
guard against plant enemies

shield - protect from harm  เกราะป้องกัีน
shield exports - protect export goods from harm and damage

essential - necessary and important ที่จำเป็น ที่สำคัญ

orchard - a fruit farm สวนผลไม้
mango orchards

Mango growers push for pesticide to shield exports

approval - saying "yes" you can do something, getting official permission to do something การอนุมัต
approval of a pesticide

speed approval - go through the process of getting approval faster
speed approval of a pesticide

Mango growers have called on the Agriculture Department to speed approval of a pesticide to protect more than 1 billion baht in exports.

chemical substance - a kind of solid, liquid or gas made from chemicals วัตถุเคมี, สารที่ได้จากการสังเคราะห์โดยกรรมวิธีทางเคมี
substance - Same as "chemical substance"

hazardous - dangerous, especially to people's health or safety
hazardous substances
list of hazardous substances

Manop Kaewwongnukul, president of the Thai Mango Growers Association, said methomyl, the pesticide, is essential for mango orchards to guard against plant enemies, but it has been on the list of hazardous substances for a long time.

Extoxnet, a pesticide information network developed by a number of universities in the US, describes methomyl as a Restricted Use Pesticide that is highly toxic to humans.

register - make an official record of something with the government; have name put on an official list (and receive permission to do something like vote or marry) ลงทะเบียน ขึ้นทะเบียน (ขอใบอนุญาต)

shortfall - not have enough; an amount which is less than the level that was expected or needed จำนวนที่ขาดไป, ปริมาณที่ขาดไป
shortfall of the substance in the market

"The Agriculture Department still refuses to register methomyl and that has led to a shortfall of the substance in the market," Mr Manop said at a seminar yesterday. "Now, growers have shifted to use substances that cost a lot more." 

strict - very careful and exact เข้มงวด
import - to buy or bring in products from another country นำเข้า

standards - an acceptable level of quality or achievement มาตรฐาน
strict import standards

According to Mr Manop, methomyl is accepted in many export markets worldwide, in particular Japan, a country well known for its strict import standards.

ripe - when a fruit is fully grown and ready to eat สุก
ripe mangoes

frozen - when water turns to ice, when something stops moving
in frozen form

Thailand exports a total of 48,000 tonnes of mangoes a year worth around one billion baht. Japan imported about 1,300 tonnes of ripe mangoes in addition to about 3,000 tonnes of the fruit in frozen form.

lack - does not have ขาดแคลน
official - approved by the government or some authority ที่เป็นทางการ
lack of official approval

distribution - giving or delivering things to many people, such as a product การจำหน่ายออกไป

The lack of official approval increases production costs not only of mangoes, but also of other export fruits, such as durians and mangosteens. Banharn Wismitanant, assistant vice-president at CP Diamondstar Co, the fruit production and distribution unit of the CP Group, said methomyl could be considered a less hazardous pesticide because it leaves a low level of residue.

encouraged - having more confidence or hope about something มีกำลังใจ
authorities - government officials; the police or people in official organisations who have the legal power to make people obey laws or rules เจ้าหน้าที่ (ตำรวจ หรือผู้มีอำนาจ)

accelerate - go faster and faster , at an increasing rate; - to cause to happen more quickly เร่ง

registration - recording in an official list

procedure - a way of doing something ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ
registration procedure

households - families or groups of people living together (economics treats this as a unit that makes decisions)
nationwide - throughout a whole country ทั่วทั้งประเทศ

Japan has permitted its use, but it only allows residue equal to three parts per million, which is very low, he said. Mr Banharn encouraged the authorities to accelerate the registration procedure to protect over 100,000 households that farm mangoes on over 2 million rai nationwide.

granted - officially given ให

results - what is produced in the end by an activity or task
analytical results

deemed - considered เห็นว่า ถือว่า
deemed acceptable

An official from the department said the registration of methomyl will be granted once tests are completed and analytical results examined and deemed acceptable.

pose - to create a dangerous or difficult situation y เป็นเหตุให้
pose a risk - create a dangerous situation
pose a risk to health - create a situation that is dangerous to the health 

environment - the natural world of land, sea, plants, and animals

The chemical substance is prohibited together with three other hazardous chemicals used in farming due to the risks they pose to the health of animals and humans as well as the effects they have on the environment.

academia - teachers and researchers working in universities

non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - organizations that are not companies or part of the government but have a goal of helping some group in society (See Wikipedia)

instructions - some writing that tells you how to do something or put something together (example: she could not use the washing machine until she followed the instructions on installing it in her home)

proper - actual, real and correct จริง (พระราชพิธีพระราชทานเพลิงพระศพจริง)
proper usage instructions

registered - officially recorded with the government (and given permission to do something)

A subcommittee with representatives from academia, experts, and participants from non-governmental organisations will be formed soon to help the department develop proper usage instructions for the chemical once it is registered.