The Democrat Party has declared its support of the ban on the use of three toxic farming chemicals, which according to the party's deputy leader and head of its economic team, Prinn Panitchpakdi, is in line with the party's policy to promote organic agriculture.
"It has been our stand from the outset that we do not support the use of the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate, and the pesticide chlorpyrifos," he said on Monday.
"This is consistent with our goal to promote organic and sustainable farming practices, which will raise the standard of our agricultural produces in every step of the way," he said.
The party has been under pressure from critics, which have accused it of not doing enough to push for an unconditional ban of the three toxic farming chemicals, even though the party's secretary-general, Chalermchai Sri-on, heads the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.
Mr Chalermchai is also a member of the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC), which has so far failed to agree to impose a ban.
At the same time, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mananya Thaiset has leaped to prominence for her vocal opposition to the use of the three chemicals.
Mr Prinn defended Mr Chalermchai, saying the agriculture minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, who is also a leading member of the Democrats, are committed in their stand against the toxic chemicals.
Mr Prinn said the party has brought senior executives of the Switzerland-based Coop Cooperative led by Gerhard Zurlutter, to meet with Mr Chalermchai.
"Coop has shown interest in buying organic products from Thailand, which opens a new market for chemical-free crops," he said.
The Democrat deputy leader said organic farming will add economic and marketing values to Thai produces, which in turn will help increase farmers' self-reliance and spur the grassroots economy.
Darunwan Charnpipatthanachai, deputy spokeswoman for the Democrats, said the party's economic team has toured farms in Si Sa Ket and met with the Young Smart Farmers group to lay down organic farming strategies.
The party has also offered assistance to the group in implementing farming methods under the new economy concept, she said.
Ms Darunwan said the party is working to develop an integrated organic farming model in Si Sa Ket, where many local farmers have begun to invest in chemical-free farming.
"The party will help to raise the quality of Thai organic products and find both domestic and international markets [to sell the products]," she said.