The tangerine garden of farmer Nguyen Van Day (in Long Hau commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap) has reduced pests and diseases after being instructed on the safe, effective and responsible use of pesticides - Photo: CHI TUE
On December 7, the Plant Protection Department, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap province and Croplife Vietnam, held a conference to evaluate the results after 3 years of coordinating the implementation of the program to guide farmers on the safe, effective and responsible use of pesticides in Dong Thap province.
At the conference, farmer Tran Minh Giu (mango grower in Cao Lanh city) said that before attending the training course, he used pesticides and mixed many types of pesticides together.
Not yet mastering the techniques, not effectively applying the "4 rights" principle (right medicine, right time, right method, right concentration and dosage) and "5 gold" in using plant protection drugs.
The “5 golden” principles specifically include following recommendations on the safe and effective use of pesticides; reading and understanding the information and symbols on pesticide labels; wearing appropriate protective clothing; being careful when spraying pesticides, properly preserving the pump, properly handling pesticide packaging; and practicing good personal hygiene measures.
However, after attending training courses, he was able to identify harmful organisms to choose specific drugs and use them according to the "4 rights" principle, thereby increasing the mango tree's productivity and efficiency.
“Through the training course, we also realized that using pesticides safely and effectively is the responsibility of every citizen to contribute to reducing environmental pollution, having less impact on human health, especially bringing about an increasingly greener, cleaner and more beautiful environment,” said Mr. Giu.
Mr. Le Van Chan - Deputy Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Dong Thap province - said that 78 training courses were organized with the participation of 3,140 farmers in the province, along with 16 training courses for 977 agricultural material dealers. In addition, 2 training courses were conducted for 100 officials in Dong Thap province, providing 3,750 sets of personal protective equipment for farmers when spraying and mixing pesticides.
After 3 years, the program has built 6 models on the province's key crops, including rice in Lap Vo, ornamental flowers in Sa Dec, durian in Chau Thanh, chili in Thanh Binh, mango in Cao Lanh and citrus in Lai Vung with a total model implementation area of more than 352 hectares.
“After 3 years of implementation, we have seen positive changes in farmers' understanding of issues related to pesticides.
Farmers are more proactive in seeking information about drugs, choosing to buy, transport, and preserve them. According to the survey, only 0.5% of farmers do not comply with the correct dosage and concentration...", Mr. Chan added.
Leaders of the Plant Protection Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap province and Croplife Vietnam signed a cooperation agreement in 2025 - Photo: C.TUỆ
Mr. Huynh Tan Dat - Director of the Plant Protection Department - emphasized that strengthening guidance on the safe, effective and responsible use of pesticides in agricultural production is the department's first and foremost task and priority.
“The implementation of the program in Dong Thap as well as in many other localities across the country reaffirms the department's long-term commitments to pursuing commitments on sustainable agricultural development.
After 3 years of implementation, the effectiveness and some initial impacts of the program have been shown, thereby highlighting the importance of public-private partnership in raising awareness and promoting safe farming practices," said Mr. Dat.
Mr. Dang Van Bao - Chairman of Croplife Vietnam - said that one of the important commitments of all Croplife member companies is to always conduct training activities in parallel when introducing and commercializing plant protection products on the market.
“This commitment demonstrates Croplife and its members’ top priority is the health and safety of those exposed to pesticides, as well as our responsibility and vision to support food security and move towards sustainable agriculture.
We hope that the success of the cooperation program implemented in Dong Thap will continue to spread and expand and call for more active participation from partners in the value chain - towards the common goals of modern, sustainable and responsible agricultural cultivation," said Mr. Bao.
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