Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has instructed state agencies to find other agricultural chemicals to replace paraquat, a dangerous pesticide.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting at Government House, the premier said he had ordered the Public Health Ministry, Commerce Ministry and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to study whether safer alternatives can be used.
No viable replacement has yet been found, he said.
State agencies must therefore focus on raising awareness of the danger paraquat poses when heavily used by farmers, he added.
"I'm worried about farmers and consumers. So if we still have to use this chemical [paraquat], then we should use it properly. I've ordered all the related agencies to find ways of reducing its usage," Gen Prayut said.
Certain networks, including the Biodiversity Sustainable Agriculture Food Sovereignty Action Thailand (BoiThai), suggested the government was only approaching the issue half-heartedly.
The group said paraquat use has been prohibited in 53 countries including China, a major manufacturer, but is still sold here to benefit Thai importers.
A Public Health Ministry committee agreed last April on the need for a ban but other industries support continued use of the chemical, BioThai said.
