Agriculture minister says paraquat cannot be banned now

13 Sept 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach stated he is prepared to ban paraquat, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos if legally permissible.
Despite current legal obstacles to an outright ban, imports of these chemicals have been drastically cut from 50,000-60,000 tonnes to 13,000 tonnes, with usage limited to specific crops and areas.
The minister explained that an immediate phase-out is challenging because many farmers depend on these chemicals for their low cost and pest control effectiveness.
He urged providing farmers sufficient time to adjust to organic farming methods and called on civic groups to educate farmers about the chemicals' dangers and advocate for reduced use.

Uthenthawai students and alumni declare truce with Pathumwan rivals

Yesterday 20:34 Key points summarised by AI

Uthenthawai students and alumni have pledged to cease violent clashes with Pathumwan Institute rivals, coinciding with their campus's reopening after a 90-day closure.
The Minister of Higher Education is mediating the long-running conflict, while the campus closure has significantly disrupted in-person classes and laboratory work for over 1,000 students.
Uthenthawai resists relocation from its current site, citing a historical land grant from King Rama VI, despite Chulalongkorn University's plans to reclaim the land for an educational hub.
Concerns are mounting over the legality of the campus closure, its detrimental impact on uninvolved students, and the potential commercial development of the land, which critics argue contradicts the late King Rama VI's intentions.