Ginger, lemongrass, galangal may soon be listed as hazardous substances
Confused by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry’s latest list of hazardous substances, which includes several Thai herbs, many farmers showed up in Bangkok to voice their concerns.
On Monday (July 13), Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mananya Thaiset announced that neem, lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, galangal, marigold, Siam weed, camellia seed residue, chillies, celery, medicinal herb senna alata, climbing lily and the non taai yaak or stemona tuberosa lour may be registered as hazardous objects type 1.
Prapan Panyachartrak, a member of the National Farmers Council, said Thais have used these herbs freely and forcing farmers to register before planting them will only create problems and challenges.
“I don’t understand why they have to register plants that Thais use in food and to naturally repel insects,” he said, adding that if these herbs were really being added to the hazardous list, he himself would lead a farmers’ protest.
Uthai Sornlaksab, president of the Rubber Alliance Association of Thailand, said getting farmers to register was just the government’s way of taking advantage of farmers, adding that this move will destroy agricultural traditions.
