He said he and his men had toured some affected areas to investigate the issue following complaints by villagers, after which the ban was ordered. The premier acknowledged that in places where chemicals had been used on bananas, the soil had become compacted and infertile. Additionally, chemical leaks into nearby rivers had killed livestock and made villagers scared to bathe or take water from rivers and streams. In addition, if investors leave without clearing the cultivated farms, Pan said removing banana roots from large farms would prove to be a time-consuming burden for local villagers. “Recovering land to make it become fertile again is another burden,” he said, referring to the unfertile soil caused by chemical usage.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 13, 2016 11:54 UTC