Hoàng Trung, director general of the Department of Plant Protection. Photo hoinhabaovietnam.vn

Hoàng Trung, director general of the Department of Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaks to Nông Nghiệp Việt Nam (Việt Nam Agriculture) newspaper about the country’s commitment to cutting the use of pesticides.

Can you tell us how you plan to cut the use of pesticides in the farming sector?

Following instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the use of pesticides in Việt Nam has been reduced considerably towards the goal of eliminating them completely.

Under Circular 21/2015 released on June 8, 2015 by the ministry, each pesticide is only allowed to contain one chemical. There is also a road map to shorten the list of chemicals used in agriculture.

The Department of Plant Protection Department has developed a plan to gradually eliminate dangerous chemicals used in the pesticides to protect the people and the environment from contamination.

This decision is a step towards the development of a strategy for organic agriculture practices in Việt Nam.

Can you tell us about the details outlined in Circular No 10/ 2020 regarding the management of the use of pesticides?

Under the circular, the use of pesticides on fast-growing crops will be phased out. Instead, farmers will be encouraged to use bio-pesticides to protect their crops.

The ministry has also issued a list of pesticides that farmers should use, particularly on rice crops and plants with high economic value.

Furthermore, the Department of Plant Protection has worked closely with various localities, enterprises and co-operatives to advise them how to use pesticides correctly.

What advice will farmers be given on how to use pesticides efficiently to ensure safe, sustainable and high yield production?

The ministry has launched an integrated pest management campaign to protect plants.

Funding has also been allocated to the Department of Plant Protection to organise “training for trainers” as part of the nationwide campaign.

In addition, the ministry has instructed the department and the Department of International Co-operation to co-ordinate with the Food and Agriculture Organisation to develop a proposal for the integrated pest campaign in Việt Nam. Hopefully the proposal will be submitted to the organisation this for approval.

The department has also asked localities nationwide to include the campaign in their strategies to achieve sustainable agriculture practice in order to produce high quality and safe products for domestic consumption and export. — VNS