Discuss solutions to ensure safety and hygiene at work for farmers

On the morning of June 10, the Vietnam Farmers' Association coordinated with the Nghe An Farmers' Association to organize a scientific workshop to research and propose a number of solutions to improve occupational safety and hygiene in the fields of cultivation and animal husbandry for farmer members in Nghe An province.

Comrades: Pham Van Duc - Deputy Head of Social Affairs Department, Central Committee of Vietnam Farmers' Union; Nguyen Quang Tung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Union co-chaired the workshop.

Delegates attending the workshop on the morning of June 10. Photo: Phu Huong

According to incomplete reports from Farmers' Associations of provinces and cities and research documents from experts, every year, the number of farmers who suffer work-related accidents in agricultural production is up to nearly 2,000 people; and about ¾ of those who suffer accidents and injuries are the main income earners of their families.

Representative of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union informed about the work of occupational safety and hygiene in agricultural production today. Photo: Phu Huong

According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on average, Vietnam officially imports about 100,000 tons of pesticides (not including those imported through unofficial channels) from China each year. Farmers are often exposed to these toxic chemicals, so the risk of occupational health hazards is very high.

Besides, farmers are also affected by toxic dust from production and pollution from livestock farming.

“These figures show that occupational accidents and diseases in agricultural production for farmers currently need a lot of attention,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Tung - Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association.

Comrade Nguyen Quang Tung emphasized that hygiene and labor safety for farmers are issues that need special attention. Photo: Phu Huong

At the workshop, many solutions were raised and discussed, such as: Establishing a management system and improving the capacity of officers working on occupational safety and hygiene in agriculture at the grassroots level; propagating and raising awareness for farmers when participating in agricultural production; organizing training and instructing farmers on the correct use of pesticides; propagating and mobilizing farmer members to understand and apply legal documents to raise awareness of ensuring occupational safety and hygiene in agriculture.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam, representative of the leadership of the Office of Coordination for New Rural Construction, gave a speech. Photo: Phu Huong

These opinions and discussions will be the basis for proposing and recommending to competent authorities directions and solutions to ensure labor safety and hygiene for farmers such as: Adjusting and supplementing legal documents in accordance with the development trend of Vietnamese agriculture; enhancing the responsibility of all levels and sectors to effectively organize the implementation of labor safety and hygiene, preventing and minimizing risks for farmers in production.

It is very common for farmers to not wear full protective gear when using pesticides. Photo: Phu Huong

In particular, on the basis of assessing the risks and limitations and inadequacies of the law in this field, propose appropriate solutions to promote sustainable agricultural and rural development, towards ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and civilized farmers.