Tanks to contain rice protection products packages in Bình Thành Commune, Lấp Vò District. — Photo baodongthap.vn

ĐỒNG THÁP — The southern province of Đồng Tháp is promoting the reuse of packaging used to contain insecticide.

The programme started after the provincial Plant Protection Sub-department reported that the province uses 8,974 tonnes of plant protection products per year, causing serious environmental pollution.

The model was set up to collect packages of rice and flower protection products.

Lê Quốc Điền, deputy director of the Đồng Tháp Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the department set up 15 tanks to contain packages in Bình Thành Commune, Lấp Vò District. Up to 337 households joined in and deposited their waste.

Additionally, farmers will be trained on using rice protection products safely, economically and effectively, as well as how to collect the packages after use.

So far, 10 training courses have been organised.

On World Environment Day on June 5 this year, the Bình Thành Cooperative organised two campaigns to collect packages, with 390kg collected.

As for flower protection products, 150 households joined in collecting packages.

Thirty tanks to contain the packages were built in Tân Khánh Commune, Sa Đéc City.

The package collection was managed by the provincial Agricultural Service Centre.

The Đồng Tháp Farmers’ Association held 12 campaigns in different districts with the participation of 840 farmers. They collected more than six tonnes of packages and bottles of plant protection products.

The provincial Plant Protection Sub-department said that it supplied buckets to hold bottles and packages.

It also organised “Green Sunday” with the participation of young people and residents to tidy up their local areas.

The sub-department held training courses about preserving and managing plant protection products for officials and traders in the province.

Organisations delivered 1,200 leaflets and 240 posters about the work.

Đồng Tháp Television broadcast 15 programmes providing information about collecting plant protection products.

Deputy director Điền said that environmental protection was one of the main goals for local authorities and residents.

It aims to build a safe and sustainable agricultural product area, protect people's health and raise the value of agricultural products in the province. — VNS