The story of Mrs. Do Thi Thin, a 72-year-old woman from Hamlet 5 in Hai Cuong commune, Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province, is one of resilience amidst adversity.
She begins her narrative by sharing her battle scars, “Look…here…here…In two recent years, my fingers have swollen joints as if there is pus inside…I have to tolerate the pain, just find a way myself to massage with my self-made herbal medicines.”
Thin’s journey is full of hardship and determination. Following her husband’s untimely death when she was just 44 years old, she found herself shouldering the burden of farming their 0.72-hectare rice field alone. Through the years, the land she has to cultivate grew to 2.43 hectares. With no other option, she took up the task of pesticide spraying, a job that would eventually take a toll on her health.
Spraying pesticides became Thin’s daily routine. This had been a grueling task that lasted from dawn till mid-morning. She recalls spraying around 30 tanks of pesticides per crop cycle, oblivious to the dangers lurking within the chemicals she handled. Despite experiencing symptoms of pesticide poisoning, including bouts of sickness and dizziness, Thin soldiered on, driven by necessity.
Aside from cultivating rice, she also tends to her vegetable garden. Thin also worked as a hired weeder, tasked with removing grass treated with herbicides. “In the past, herbicides were used extensively against weeds, but I can’t recall their names,” Thin shared.
The absence of proper protective gear only exacerbated Thin’s plight. She recounts her reluctance to wear cumbersome raincoats or gloves, opting instead for makeshift protection—a handkerchief tied to her palm-leaf conical hat that only covers her mouth and nose and fabric gloves for her hands. “It is too hot and uncomfortable,” she said with a laugh. However, the toll of pesticide exposure became evident as Thin battled headaches, swollen joints, and persistent nausea.
“The most recent severe incident occurred over 10 years ago when I was over 60,” Thin recounted. “I sprayed a large amount of pesticides, using more than 10 spraying tanks each day. That was the most challenging time for me because I didn’t have enough money to take care of myself or afford nutritious food to aid in my recovery. After one spraying session, I felt nauseous, dizzy, and developed a headache. I even collapsed before I could wash my feet upon returning home. I had to call for emergency assistance from the local healthcare staff. Later, my nephew took me to the commune health center, where I received an injection. To detoxify my body, he prepared morning glory for me to drink. I had to stay at home for several days to recover from the poisoning,” Thin recounted.
Thin now suffers from various health issues. She relies on medication, such as the brain tonic Hoat Huyet Nhat Nhat, to alleviate symptoms. Her condition requires her to take pills twice daily. Despite medical tests, the cause of her joint pain remains unidentified. Thin believes pesticide spraying and weeding are behind her health problems, as confirmed by her doctor’s inquiries into her occupational history.
After years of enduring the debilitating effects of pesticide exposure, she decided to stop spraying altogether. However, even in her respite, the lingering presence of pesticides in the air around her home near the fields serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices she has made for her livelihood.
Now, Thin tends to her rice field with caution, entrusting the task to her daughter while she focuses on managing her health. Despite her hardships, Thin remains hopeful for a safer, more sustainable future.
As she reflects on her journey, Thin’s message to her daughter and fellow farmers is clear: prioritize health above all else. Her story serves as a sobering reminder of the perils of pesticide exposure and the resilience of those who endure it. Through the story she shared, Thin implores the people to heed the warning signs and strive for a future where farming is both gainful and safe for everyone.
Women In Agroecology: Towards Pesticide-Free Communities is a continuing storytelling initiative of PAN Asia Pacific and its partners to document stories of rural women who are survivors of pesticide poisoning and/or making the transition to agroecology.
Our contributing partners for the second installation: Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISUK), Bangladesh; Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (SERUNI); Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA), Laos; and Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED), Vietnam
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