Risk Assessment of Pesticide Use in Chinese kale Cultivation of GAP and Conventional Practice by EIQ in North-East Thailand

抄録

This study reports the pesticide application and environmental impact in Chinese kale cultivation under Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and conventional practice in North- East, Thailand. The Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) model was applied in this study. The data were collected by using semi-structured interviews and observation. GAP farmers (farmers in GAP’s system) and conventional cultivation farmers (non-GAP farmers) were purposive selected, 10 per each group with a total of 20 farmers. Data from farmer interviews on pesticides application, type of substances, application rates, frequency, and plot size were used in the EIQ Field Use equation to assess environmental risks between the two practices. The criteria are EIQ Field Use; <25 = very low risk <50 = low risk 50-99 = moderate risk 100-199 = high risk and> 200 = very high risk. The results showed that 15 active ingredients in pesticide were found in GAP farms and 19 active ingredients in pesticide use were found in non-GAP farms. The GAP Chinese kale has a lower level of impact on environmental risks than the conventional one (Average EIQ Field Use: GAP = 87.4, non-GAP = 136.87). This data indicates that the GAP system could reduce the risk of pesticides in the environment of commercial vegetable-growing village.