Working conditions
Strengthening Farmers’ IPM (01.01.04)
IPM Danida, Strengthening Farmers’ IPM in Pesticide-Intensive Areas, 2004
In Thailand the Department of Agriculture, together with the Danish International Development Assistance, have established programmes aiming to strengthen the use of integrated pest management among farmers. These have focused on areas where the use of pesticides is high. The impacts of pesticide use on farmers were monitored in health surveys. A significant risk for public health is the consumption of pesticides residues in food. Farmers are provided with information on the hazards of pesticides and their use, together with information on less hazardous alternatives. A report published in English and Thai describes the symptoms of poisoning so that it is possible for farmers to recognise the cause. Not always do farmers realise that they have been poisoned by pesticides and believe instead that their illness is due to an infectious disease. One farmer who sprayed paraquat over a period of six months had blisters over his skin, which were itching strongly, and developed a bad cough. The employer and doctors at a hospital did not recognise the actual cause. When it was diagnosed that the man suffered from poisoning with paraquat it was too late and he died (p. 10).
Bartlett A, and Bijlmakers H (IPM Danida), Did you take your poison today? 2003
In Thailand the Department of Agriculture, together with the Danish International Development Assistance, have established programmes aiming to strengthen the use of integrated pest management among farmers. These have focused on areas where the use of pesticides is high. The impacts of pesticide use on farmers were monitored in health surveys. A significant risk for public health is the consumption of pesticides residues in food. Farmers are provided with information on the hazards of pesticides and their use, together with information on less hazardous alternatives. A report published in English and Thai describes the symptoms of poisoning so that it is possible for farmers to recognise the cause. Not always do farmers realise that they have been poisoned by pesticides and believe instead that their illness is due to an infectious disease. One farmer who sprayed paraquat over a period of six months had blisters over his skin, which were itching strongly, and developed a bad cough. The employer and doctors at a hospital did not recognise the actual cause. When it was diagnosed that the man suffered from poisoning with paraquat it was too late and he died (p. 10).
Bartlett A, and Bijlmakers H (IPM Danida), Did you take your poison today? 2003
