New rating for 'green' pesticidesThe Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to move 13 herbs and spices local farmers use as green pesticides into a lower toxicity classification in a bid to promote green agriculture. These 13 herbs were moved to the more tightly controlled Type 2 level in 2013 from their original classification as Type 1 in 2009. Before that, local farmers had used these herbs freely as natural weed and pest control. These 13 herbs are; neem, tea/tea seed cake, galangal, ginger, turmeric, citronella grass, Siam weed, marigold, chilli, celery, ringworm bush, flame lily and Stemona collinsiae. However, the reclassification alone will not be enough to encourage green pesticide use, according to Prapat Panyachatraksa, chairperson of National Farmers Council.

Source: Bangkok Post July 13, 2020 23:48 UTC