Hanoi hosts Asian farmers general assembly

As many as 10 member countries of the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA) for Sustainable Rural Development attended its 5th general assembly in Hanoi on March 7.  

In his opening speech, VFU Vice Chairman Nguyen Duy Luong stressed that the union has actively joined in AFA activities and made many proposals in a number of regional consultative workshops to tackle difficulties for Vietnamese and regional farmers.

Tsai Shun Te, AFA Chairman, said the association has created a network of farmers in the region to share experiences and initiatives, helping its member countries sustainably develop their agriculture, reduce poverty and create policies for their farmers.

AFA has also protected the rights of small farmers and boosted solidarity, friendship and cooperation, as well as building capacity for farmers’ associations, he added.

Participants discussed AFA strategy and orientation for the next five years, which will be meeting the interest of farmers, fishermen, rural women, young people and local communities in Asia.

Support policies for regional rice production, the impact of food price and climate change on agricultural production, and its opportunities and potential were also debated at the meeting.

AFA members highlighted challenges that farmers have to face during the modernization and industrialization process, adding that suitable policies should be formulated for farmers, with a sustainable orientation for the coming years.

HCMC subsides 2 cm per year, agency warns

Ho Chi Minh City is facing land subsidence that has been developing strongly, at a rate of 1.5-2 cm per year on average, an official warned.

Speaking at yesterday’s seminar on the project titled “HCMC Flooding Control Strategy”, Ho Long Phi, director of the project management unit, said in some areas, the subsidence measured 3 cm per year, three times higher than the rise of the sea level.

The subsidence, which is forecast to worsen in the years to come, has affected the capacity of the city’s drainage system and worsened flooding in the city when there are heavy rains, he said.

He also expressed concerns about the fact that many embankments guarding against high tides have been built without careful examination of the impacts of the land subsidence.
Therefore, the operating efficiency of those works in preventing flooding has been limited, he said.

According to a study announced by the city Department of Natural Resources and Environment last year, many areas in 17 districts suffered subsidence of more than 1 cm per year.

In the areas that have undergone urbanization in Districts 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and Tan Phu, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon, and Nha Be districts, the subsidence measured over 1.5 cm per year.

In the past 10 years, a number of areas in the city have subsided about 20-30 cm. In some large construction sites, the subsidence was much heavier – 50 cm.

The department blamed this subsidence for the chronic flooding that plagues the city during high tides and the rainy season.

The main cause for the subsidence is excessive underground water exploitation, the department said.

A map of underground water exploitation should be set up to control that activity in order to prevent further subsidence of land.

UN releases Industrial Development Report 2011

The UN Industrial Development Agency (UNIDO) and the Ministry of Trade on March 7 jointly released the Industrial Development Report 2011 (IDR 2011).

The report, themed “Industrial energy efficiency for sustainable wealth creation: capturing environmental, economic and social dividends” was carried out in Vietnam, with comparisons to ten Asian countries. The report is announced every two years.

UNIDO Managing Director Wilfried Luetkenhorst said the efficient use of energy is an important factor in achieving sustainable industrial development, along with overcoming major challenges that countries worldwide are facing in ensuring green growth, food production and security and coping with climate change. 

Developing countries’ energy spending makes up 55 percent of the world’s total US$1 trillion per year. Industries account for 25 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

IDR 2011 pointed out many challenges to investment in the use of energy saving technology, particularly the existing energy policy prioritising cheap energy.

UNIDO put forward six proposals to developing nations for energy efficiency, suggesting Vietnam draft laws and regulations to eliminate plants using outdated technology to cause energy waste and environmental pollution and devise a specific timeframe on efficient energy use.

Vietnam also needs to have funds and suitable policies to assist research and technology transfer in energy efficiency, particularly energy price policy for efficient use, said the UN organisation. 

Addressing the report launch ceremony, Deputy Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh welcomed the UNIDO initiative to encourage energy efficiency, especially the establishment of an international cooperative mechanism to transfer efficient energy technology from developed countries to developing countries, including Vietnam.
The efficient and economical energy programme goal for 2011-2015, to reduce energy consumption by 5-8 percent, is an ambitious objective given the existing obsolete technology, he said.

He said the ministry will consider UNIDO proposals concerning the implementation of policies suitable for energy efficiency.

Vietnamese woman murdered by Korean husband

A Korean man committed suicide after killing his Vietnamese wife on Tuesday, said the Women’s Union of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The wife, the 38-year-old Pham Thi Loan, followed her husband to Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province about three months ago.

They got married in August 2011 before Loan took the plane with her husband to Korea on January 21, 2012.

After the incident, The Women's Union has supported Tho family in finishing necessary procedures to go to Korea to bring the remain of Loan back home.

National climate change strategy announced

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has announced the national climate change strategy and climate change and sea level rise scenario for Vietnam.

Addressing the announcement ceremony in Hanoi on March 7, MONRE Minister Nguyen Minh Quang said the Vietnamese Government has ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol and is completing legal documents on the control and mitigation of natural disasters.

The strategy, which was approved by the Prime Minister on Dec. 5, 2011, comprises six components with 10 strategic tasks to deal with climate change. It outlines overall objectives, priority projects to be implemented in 2011-2015, and plans for 2016-2025 as well as objectives for 2050, with a vision to 2100. It also identifies strategic tasks to cope with global climate change.

Director of the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment Prof. Dr Tran Thuc said MONRE completed the scenario in 2009 based on estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change scenario of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Climate Change with updates on climate systems.

Also at the event, the international community highlighted the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to cope with global climate change and pledged continued financial and technological assistance in the field.

The ministry also organized discussions on increasing coordination capability in coping with and implementing policies on climate change, financial issues in facing climate change in Vietnam and enhancing awareness, capacity, education and training and scientific and technological development in climate change.

More aid for Dong Thap flood victims

Donations of goods and cash worth a total of VND3.5 billion (US$168,000) have been presented to over 4,800 poor households in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to help them overcome the aftermath of the devastating floods in 2011.

The donations were from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and the aid agency Save The Children, then re-distributed by the Dong Thap Women’s Association.

The goods, including water filters, water tanks, decontamination tablets and nutritional additives were delivered to flood victims in three districts of Tan Hong, Hong Ngu and Tam Nong.

Of the beneficiaries, 1,400 households received VND1 million ($48) each to help rebuild their lives.

VNN/VOV/VNS/Tuoi Tre