Nghe An uses more than 500 tons of plant protection materials each year.

PV:Can you tell us how pesticide waste affects the environment and human life?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:Pesticide bottle packaging is mainly made of nylon and plastic bottles, so it is very difficult to decompose. In natural conditions, they can last for decades, even hundreds of years. Meanwhile, according to some research results, the amount of pesticide packaging and bottles released into the environment after using pesticides accounts for about 10-15% and the amount of pesticide remaining in the packaging is about 2-5%.

This situation leads to the possibility of pesticides evaporating, polluting the air; polluting the soil and water environment, and in the long term, affecting groundwater; The remaining amount of pesticides will kill animals, microorganisms in the soil, water and beneficial natural enemies in the fields.

Farmers in Quynh Luu district spray pesticides. Photo: Quang An

Pesticides can directly affect the sprayer and enter the body through three ways: through contact, through eating and drinking, and through inhalation of fumes during use.Drugs can also enter the body of animals, into agricultural products, exist and accumulate there, affecting users. When affecting the human body, it can cause acute poisoning, manifested by symptoms of dizziness, sweating, vomiting, convulsions, difficulty breathing, fainting, which can lead to death; Chronic poisoning, drugs enter the body and accumulate in the body causing gene mutations, cancer...

PV:TWhat is the situation of pesticide use in Nghe An province in particular, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:Since 2000, our country has used 35,000 - 100,000 tons of plant protection chemicals each year. Normally, packaging accounts for about 10% of the total amount of chemicals consumed, equivalent to more than 10,000 tons/year.

Nghe An is a province with a relatively large agricultural land area, every year the whole province cultivates about 370,000 hectares of various crops; of which 180,000 hectares of rice, 20,000 hectares of peanuts, 40,000 hectares of corn; 20,000 hectares of cassava; 30,000 hectares of sugarcane; 20,000 hectares of vegetables; 5,000 hectares of citrus fruit trees...

With that cultivated area, Nghe An annually uses about 500 - 700 tons of pesticides, discharging 50 - 70 tons of various types of pesticide waste into the fields.

People buy pesticides in Nam Dan district. Photo: Quang An

PV:To limit the harmful effects of this type of hazardous waste, what regulations need to be followed, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:In recent years, to minimize the harmful effects of pesticide waste, the provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has focused on issuing official dispatches to direct and guide localities in collecting pesticide waste after use in the fields; coordinating with localities to build a system of tanks to collect pesticide packaging and bottles after use in the fields.

In addition, organize propaganda conferences or integrate propaganda and IPM, ICM, SRI, and community classes for people about the harmful effects of pesticide bottle packaging after use in the field on the environment and public health. Coordinate with mass media agencies to propagate this issue.

Producers must consciously collect pesticide packaging after use for proper disposal. Do not throw packaging away to avoid polluting the product and the environment. Do not use pesticide packaging for other purposes; especially for storing, supporting, lining products, storing water or food. Pesticide packaging must be collected and disposed of properly. There should be tanks for pesticide packaging in production areas.

To manage this issue well, in addition to the awareness of producers, we hope that the Provincial and District People's Committees and all levels and sectors will annually allocate funds to collect and destroy pesticide packaging after use in the fields.

PV:Thank you!