In the second of our programmes on the use of pesticides, Earth Report finds out what the chemical companies are doing about the misuse of their products and the 'quiet revolution' that is offering farmers a pesticide-free, organic, future.

Responsible corporations?

In the first programme we saw how the illegal trade in pesticides from Thailand to Cambodia has resulted in the widespead chemical poisoning of Cambodian farmers - because they cannot read the safety labels on pesticide canisters.

'Product Stewardship' is a set of conditions that chemical manufacturers have adopted to ensure the safe use of their products. What is not clear is whether manufacturers who have a policy on stewardship are responsible for the misuse of their products in countries they do not directly distribute to, like Cambodia.

Campaigning groups, like the Pesticide Action Network, believe that 'responsibility' means that chemical companies, who make a huge profit from the unregulated trade of their products, should withdraw any products they cannot control - or take action to ensure their safe use.

The official response from chemical companies is that it is 'fakes', not their genuine products, that are causing the problem.

As campaign groups and chemical companies argue over the issue of responsibility, Earth Report takes a look at two successful 'chemical-free' initiatives.

Bangkok's 'market' forces

Bangkok's ex-governor, Dr Bhichit Ratrakulm, was so concerned about the rising level of pesticide use by Thai farmers that he used market forces to encourage local farmers to cut down.

In Si Moom Wong market - the largest fresh market in Thailand at 16 hectares - a team of technicians examine around 70% of the produce every day for pesticide residue levels. In just three years, Dr Bhichit Ratrakulm's scheme has encouraged local farmers to adopt more ecologically-friendly methods of food production. Now only 5% of the produce reaching this market is rejected.

As a result, local farmers are turning organic. In Chainat district, farmers have started their own insectory which breeds natural predators to control pests. The insectory is so popular that farmers travel from neighbouring districts in search of 'green' bugs.

Getting off the pesticide treadmill

Thailand's ecologically-aware farmers are part of a wider movement which began in Indonesia. Known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), this way of farming only resorts to pesticides when they are absolutely necessary.

In 1986, former-President Suharto banned the use of 57 formulations of pesticide on rice and declared that farmers should learn about IPM. Since then this 'quiet revolution' has grown into a strong national programme.

Farmers learn about management, agroecology, soil properties and how to control insects naturally in 'farmer field schools'. But IPM is more than just the promotion of environmentally-sensitive methods of farming - more importantly, it's about long-term education, knowledge-sharing, empowerment and community building.

With so many farmers converting to IPM there's little demand for pesticides - farmers who have adopted IPM practices have, on average, been able to reduce their pesticide use by 80%

IPM is so popular in Indonesia that it's led to a National Association of farmers. By working together, these farmers now have considerable advocacy and campaigning clout. Through the IPM network, Indonesia's farmers, once a silent majority, have gained a voice.

Cambodia's choice

In Cambodia we saw that the misuse and overuse of pesticides can have serious consequences for the environment and the health of farmers. But there is a choice. Farmers now have an organic alternative - championed by IPM - which offers proven results in an ecologically-friendly way. Can Cambodia rise to the challenge?