VietNamNet Bridge - The Agricultural Environment Institute estimates that the volume of fertilizer unnecessarily used in agricultural production in Mekong Delta is around 140,000 tons a year.

Mai Van Trinh, head of the institute, said that the abuse of plant protection chemicals in cultivation is becoming more common despite strong warnings by scientists. The use of fertilizers and pesticides without following instructions not only is inefficient, but also damaging to the environment.

Acid residue in inorganic fertilizer will sour the land and generate toxins, thus reducing biological activity of the soil and crop yield.

According to the World Bank (WB), Vietnam has gained impressive growth in agricultural production in the last 20 years. However, its agriculture is closer to the critical point of the intensive production model in input factors such as labor, chemicals,  and natural resources.  

Vietnam has gained impressive growth in agricultural production in the last 20 years. However, its agriculture is closer to the critical point of the intensive production model in input factors such as labor, chemicals,  and natural resources.

A World Bank report pointed out that pollution in animal husbandry has been increasing the most. The waste from milk cow farming in Hanoi, Nghe An and HCM City has been seriously polluting the soil and water surface.

The pollution in aquaculture is also becoming more alarming, especially because of the rapid expansion of catfish and shrimp farming in Mekong Delta. It is common that waste water from farming ponds are discharged directly into the environment.

Similar effects are occurring in the north.

In 2015, the Thai Binh Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and POP Pesticides Project joined forces to survey 18 polluted areas as requested by provincial authorities. Of these, full pesticide storehouses were found in five places. 

The testing in some areas found POP chemical residue, mostly DDT and HCHs, the concentration of which exceeded levels stipulated in QCVN 15:2008, the national standard on soil quality.

In 2006-2009, Thai Binh province treated 14 tons of plant protection chemicals. Many years ago, cement tanks were built for local farmers for packaging pesticides. However, since the tanks broke, farmers now tend to throw the packaging away indiscriminately. 

The increase in pesticide shops throughout the country is an important reason behind the abuse of chemicals. Meanwhile, the number of merchandise plant protection chemicals is too large (4,068).

In Nam Dinh province, a survey found that 318 plant protection products are still in circulation. Local authorities have made 23 inspection tours to pesticide shops so far this year and discovered 27 violations, imposing a total fine of VND45 million.

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