Because of Taiwan's wet, humid climate, the crops are easily plagued by disease and insects. If farmers did not use pesticides to control this problem, they would lose a considerable percentage of their crops. The amount spent on pesticides is, therefore, very large.
For the farmers, handling pesticides involves risks which they must take for economic reasons. The question is how much should be used to be both safe and economical. According to Li Kuo-cheng, the head of the Plant Protection Center in Taiwan, "At the present time, the biggest problem with pesticides is waste and next is that their use is not safe enough." He pointed out that about four-ninths of what is being spent this year is a waste.
Aside from the problem of waste is the question of danger when using pesticides. There have been a great number of improvements in this area over the years. DDT was first introduced to the world in 1939, and this marked a revolution in farming. In 1950, the Farmers' Association brought DDT to the farmers in Taiwan, but at that time, very little was done to oversee its use. A new era began in 1972 when the Plant Protection Center began doing research into the safety of pesticides. The third era began in 1975 when the Ministry of Economics, through the Plant Protection Center, implemented rigid controls. Pesticides now must pass tests that prove they have neither short-term nor long-term ill effects.
Pesticides have improved in that their effectiveness has increased, while the dangers have decreased, but although the experts now claim that they are relatively safe, many farmers continue to complain of illnesses related to pesticides.
One of the main reasons for this is because, as farmers are in contact with pesticides the most, they are also the first to be harmed by them. Another primary cause is that the pesticides are often used incorrectly. Many farmers are not well informed about the proper procedures. Also, many farmers find the safety precautions a nuisance and disregard them, For example, they do not wear the proper protective clothing and do not wash up thoroughly after using the pesticides.
In addition to the danger for farmers, there also exists a problem for consumers. Much of the food consumers get has pesticides on it and yet there is no way to wash it all off. Li's advice about the best way to avoid this is to eat only cooked vegetables and to refrain from eating the skins of fruits. According to Li, this is the only sure-fire method.
[Picture Caption]
Above: A view of the Taiwan Plant Protection Center Research Building. Below: The head of the Plant Protection Center, Li Kuo-cheng, discusses the problems of using pesticides in Taiwan.
The head of the Plant Protection Center, Li Kuo-cheng, discusses the problems of using pesticides in Taiwan.
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)