Reuters- Nearly 700 farmers in Kien Thanh and Kenh Chin hamlets of Kien Luong and Kien Giang districts have joined the launching ceremony of the project “Management of pesticides packaging towards sustainable development” on March 14. The project was initiated by a group of students in Can Tho University and won the Holcim Prize 2009.
The project was implemented by Holcim Vietnam Cement Company, local authority and other partners and is expected to last until March 2012. It consists of five stages: conducting a survey on farmers’ routine use of pesticides and consciousness of sustainable development; training to raise their awareness about environmental protection via the use of pesticides; inspecting periodically, collecting, sorting and treating packaging thoroughly; summarizing the project and giving award for those who join actively.
Kien Thanh and Kenh Chin hamlets are the main rice growing areas of Kien Binh commune, Kien Luong and Kien Giang districts. On average, each household here has 5 hectares of agricultural land for cultivation. The amount of pesticide packaging after being used is often dumped in fields, canals, etc., which has made bad impacts on water and aquatic resources and residents’ habitat.
Throwing packaging of pesticides packaging in the fields after being used is one of farmers’ habit that affect environment- Photo: Tr. Uyen
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Huong, a resident in Kenh Chin, Kien Giang, said: “Some farmers have collected and put pesticide packaging in a corner of the field or brought them home, but this is not a safe measure. I will fully participate in training sessions on how to manage this type of packaging for the safety of our health and environment.”
Prior to Kien Giang, the project was carried out in O Mon district, Can Tho city in 2010 and attracted more than 80% of households to take part in training course, 67% in the preliminary treatment at home, and 76% in the collective collection with about 400 kilograms of collected packaging.
TR. UYEN
(TTO, 16/03/2011)