INNOVATIVE PESTICIDE KIT MODEL FOR VEGETABLE FARM SAFETY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM

Abstract

Agricultural farming was reported in 2011 as main common sector of Thailand, representing 35.8% of labor force. Recognizing that contaminated pesticides in farm produce, especially the 4 groups; organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid and organochlorine were detected. Innovative pesticide kit model was developed in Thailand for vegetable farm safety surveillance. Collected vegetable in central market of Nakhonratchasima province, 5.6% detected samples of unsafe pesticide residues. A quasi study was performed during May 2012-October 2013 in Nakhonratchasima province. Study group; klongtabak village, ladbuakao subdistrict, sekhiew district and control group; ta-ngoy village in chanthuek subdistrict, pakchong district. Pesticide residues were highly detected in marketed Chinese kale vegetable by MOPH, Thailand in 2012, Chinese kale samples from plantations in both groups, were purposively collected. Validated 4 groups innovative pesticide test kit of Department of Medical Sciences, obtained petty patents from Thailand Intellectual Property Department, was used to screen pesticide residues in 62 collected kale samples. All kale samples were analyzed, using spectrophotometer for % acetyl cholinesterase inhibition assay, that enzyme was inhibited by organophosphate and carbamate, detected or suspected unsafe samples were quantitatively determined of pesticide residues (Codex’s MRL) using GLC/HPLC. Before intervention study, two detected samples of chlorpyrifos (>MRL) in control, two detected cypermethrin (>MRL) and one detected <MRLs of methomyl, carbofuran and 3-OH Carbofuran in study group but none were detected in both groups at post intervention. Transfer technology for self-test LAB in intervention farms, was trained to agriculturists. Results of 92 % accuracy competence test by farmers, at inter- laboratory comparision of innovative kit testing with competent analysis of Department of Medical Sciences, reference laboratory of Thailand was acceptable at post laboratory training. This study program had cooperation with farm laoboratory top management to support the use of innovative pesricide test kit by agriculturists for safe farm vegetable with less chemical contamination. These study tools were included in innovatives pesticide kit model for vegetable farm safety surveillance [rogram and aimed at evaluating effectiveness bu comparing association pf pesticide residues in Chinese kale produce before and after ontervention. Study results show that decreased % enzyme inhibition at post period of intervention, compared with pre intervention period was 51.9 % at p-value <0.011, revealed that intervention program affected reduction of pesticde inhibition at 0.05 % significance level. Farmers ware urained self - test pesticide kit technology. Farmers could use innovative pesticidekits for self - testing in proficiency samples and efficiently analyzed to achieve 93 % accuracy test after laboratory training. The program can be applied to reduce pesticide risk in other farm communities.