In Cambodia, more than 80 percent of the total population are
farmers and most of them are using dangerous pesticides for their agriculture in
ignorance of their threat to health and environment. Pesticides are often
imported illegally across Cambodia’s uncontrollable borders. According to
regulations, pesticides imported and marketed in Cambodia must have a label on
the pesticide packaging in the Khmer language. However, in actual practice, few
pesticides have such labelling.
Many Cambodian farmers mistakenly believe
that all pesticides in powder form are “DDT” and all liquid pesticides are “Endrin”.
Among the nine pesticides which are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
internationally banned by the Stockholm Convention (Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT,
Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene, Mirex and Toxaphene), DDT and
Endrin are very popular with Cambodian farmers. Cambodians also frequently use
other POP Pesticides, for example, Chlordane and Heptachlor.
As Cambodia becomes a member of ASEAN and WTO, it is more
important than ever to raise environmental issues and encourage fellow
Cambodians to seek sustainable agriculture methods and lifestyles. Hence, there
is a need to continue to raise awareness, to promote debate, and to bring the
concerns of NGOs and the voices of local people to decision-makers, government
institutions and development agencies, resulting in better protection of safety,
health of people and the environment.
