In the period from 2021 to 2025, twelve enterprises have committed with the Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (PPD - MARD) to build models and apply biopesticides with an area of ​​approximately 200,000 ha. Many localities such as Dong Thap, An Giang, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak are also willing to participate. And after a period of implementation, a number of effective models are initially present and replicated. Vietnam Agriculture News had had an interview with Mr. Hoang Trung - Director of the Plant Protection Department regarding this topic. 

Consider removing more harmful active ingredients

As a specialized state management agency, what orientations and solutions will the Plant Protection Department offer so that the crop industry does not grow at the expense of the environment and human health while still effectively reducing investment costs?

In order to create responsible and sustainable agriculture, we have set out three major orientations for the plant protection field: The first is to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides existing within agroproduction, the second is to try to limit chemical pesticide usage, and the third is to increase the use of biological pesticides to replace chemical pesticides.

And in order to realize these orientations, detailed objectives are required. For example, we have set a target that by 2025 biological pesticide products will account for 30% of the pesticide product structure and the biological pesticides use rate must reach 20% of the total annual use of pesticides.

So how can we reduce the amount of chemical pesticides used at present?

First of all, we must tighten management from the beginning. Right from the registration stage, in the process of granting testing permits, and evaluating testing results, the Plant Protection Department strictly follows the provisions of the law.

At the same time, in the coming time, the PPD will conduct a comprehensive review of the list of allowed pesticides in Vietnam, thereby continuing to contemplate and propose to remove more toxic active ingredients and pesticides with high risks of impact on human health, livestock, ecological environment and food safety.

VND 310 billion and a precise raw material area of 200,000 ha

There's an old phrase "easier said than done". From these orientations, goals and solutions, how have the Plant Protection Department as well as relevant localities and units organized and implemented the followed actions?

By March 2022 the Plant Protection Department has signed a cooperation agreement with twelve pesticide enterprises on the program "The 2021 - 2025 guidelines for safe and effective use of pesticides and the development of production and bio-pesticides use". These are enterprises with great enthusiasm and responsibility, taking the lead in agroproduction registration and application of environmental-friendly pesticides in agroproduction.

The commitment’s content clearly states the construction of nearly 120 demonstration in-field pesticide application models with nine key crop groups in consideration of the agriculture restructuring program. The total area of demonstration and application models will be 200,000 - 250,000 ha. And along with each demonstrative model there will be training courses to raise awareness for farmers and agents on the use of biological pesticides.

It is expected that in the 2021 - 2025 period businesses will provide training and guidance for more than 400,000 farmers and 15,000 agents on safe and effective use of pesticides, and build 1,300 tanks and storage tanks to collect and process pesticide packages after use.

The total investment for this program committed by enterprises is approximate VND 310 billion.

Many biological drugs made from peat and leaves are highly effective

From testing and evaluating bio-pesticide production and application models, can you share with us some initial results of the cooperation between the Plant Protection Department and partners?

At present the models are still in the process of implementation and evaluation of effectiveness. However, the recorded initial results are very positive. Several outstanding examples include the "Biology power on rice" model for rice variety OM 5451 and the bio-pesticide application model using Polyphenols extracted from peat, leaves and bark of mango and other kinds of trees and plants. The models are deployed on an area of 40,000 ha in Thoi Hoa hamlet, Thoi Xuan commune, Co Do district, and Can Tho city with Tan Thanh Co. being the main input supplier.

There is this one model using Amtech 100EW (extract from cashew nut silk) to treat diseases on red flesh dragon fruit trees in Long Tri commune, Chau Thanh district, Long An province, which also proves to be very effective. According to the gardener, the effectiveness of Amtech 100EW at the fruit maturation stage is lower than that of chemical pesticides but the yield and quality are still satisfactory, not to mention dragon fruit products are all qualified for export to other countries as they do not exceed pesticide residues.

“Be persistent! Talk until farmers understand!"

It may seem very difficult to change the mindset of farmers on the issue of using safe and environmentally friendly pesticides, so what expectations do you have for the cooperation program between the Plant Protection Department and partners?

In this regard, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan has shared that it is necessary to be persistent and stay close to reality so that we can communicate and raise awareness of the whole society about the importance of building responsible agriculture.

The Minister particularly emphasized: "If farmers do not understand at once, we will keep spreading the word, and we will not stop until they understand. Our words cannot only stay on paper. We have to go down the field ourselves and give practical instructions to the people. Program organizers do not have to invite them to the hall for “information meetings” anymore. That method is not effective.”

In addition to training classes, we are also designing and aiming to organize contests to spread environment-friendly and high economic efficiency agricultural models.

It is a pleasure to know that CorpLife Vietnam, a non-profit international organization promoting activities in the crop science industry, and the Vietnam Pesticide Association (VIPA) have accompanied and become a strong aid to the PPD.

How do the people perceive the "responsible agriculture" models of the Plant Protection Department and partners? Do these models look promising enough to replicate?

The models we make not only reflect what the Plant Protection Department wishes for but also what the people anticipate. Many localities have sent requests to the Department to support the development of training programs and reach for businesses to coordinate with provinces.

If there’s one lesson we have learned, it’s that provinces or localities receiving close attention from the leading authority all turn out to be very successful in implementing the models. They have reciprocal resources to make things work.

And not just bio-pesticides, the Plant Protection Department and partners also have the same approach to organic fertilizers, planting area codes, and integrated tree health management programs.

We put a lot of determination into this program because in the future we will be able to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and gradually switch to bio-pesticides. This act is especially meaningful since this is still a time when the prices of agricultural inputs are in constant increase, not to mention the producer can both stay safe and healthy, and the ecological environment is well-protected.

Thank you, sir!

Translated by Samuel Pham