Agro-Chemicals

General information

Vietnam is now in the group of countries using many pesticides and is difficult to control. The domestic pesticide market is quite upset with its long list of active ingredients (more than 1,700 active ingredients) and more than 4,000 different trade names. Along with that, the massive import of pesticides along with the overuse of pesticides by farmers has been causing the consequences for the vegetables and fruit produced in the country, as well as causing many barriers to the business to make business decisions. Quality management of pesticides is also inadequate. According to Fresh Studio's research report on the use and management of pesticides, many drugs are labelled incorrectly, the ingredients are not fully listed. In addition, pesticides have so many different names that confuse the user. The problem of garbage bundle is also affecting the quality of the environment.

Organization and objectives:

The PPP TF on Agro-chemicals was established in September 2015, and is now co-chaired by the Plant Protection Department, CropLife and Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).

This PPP TF on Agro-chemicals has the function of connecting relevant stakeholders, strengthening public-private dialogue, rational resource allocation, and coordinating with other task forces to manage the use of chemicals in commodity lines, important commodities are pepper / spices, tea, coffee, vegetables. Up to now, the TF has drawn representatives from the Crop Production Department, ICD, IPSARD, Tea Association, Pepper Association, Dow Company, Dupont Representation, Harris Freeman, Mc Comick, JDE, Monsanto, Neddspices, OLAM, Rainforest Alliance, Syngenta, Fresh Studio, Unilever.

Key outcomes:

• Coordinate with other PPP TFs to participate in control of the maximm residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides through Agri-team model; As a result, 5 out of 12 enterprises no longer found pesticide residues on tea trees, while the remainder remained within the permitted level of Taiwanese and European markets.
• Develop and complete the national document on sustainable tea production, which has been trained on pilot scale; Complete and submit the national document on sustainable tea production (NSC) and carry out printing and dissemination activities.
• Members of the group, such as the Vietnam Tea Association, continue to collaborate with the Plant Protection Department to formally set up the "Guidelines for Establishment of a Collective Plant Protection Team" to replicate this model across the sector. tea, expected in 2018.
• The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) in collaboration with the Department of Plant Protection has developed the "Pesticide Search Software" which can look up information on the website or phone interface. This software is expected to provide information that helps farmers, pesticide agents and state management agencies in the management and use of pesticides effectively and reasonably. This software will be trialed for commodities such as coffee, tea and pepper.
• Report on investigation of the distribution of pesticides used in coffee and inter-crops (coffee, pepper, durian) in coffee gardens and propose alternative solutions of the ingredients which are more environmentally friendly (Lam Dong Sub-Department of Plant Protection in collaboration with LDC companies, Syngenta, June 2017).
• Complete the study on the status of management and use of pesticides in Lam Dong province for coffee and tea. A workshop on this research was organized and proposed some appropriate interventions in August 2017 in Bao Loc, Lam Dong. Participants in the workshop proposed solutions to build the telephone software system to provide information on pesticides.
• Monitor the warnings related to agrochemical residues in coffee, tea and pepper at export markets.

Members

MARD–Plant Protection Department (Co-Leader) 

CropLife Viet Nam (Co-Leader)

IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (Co-Leader)

Bayer Viet Nam Ltd.

Corteva Agrisicence Viet Nam (DowAgroSciencesB.V.)

QueLam Group

Syngenta Viet Nam Ltd.

Tien Nong Industrial & Agricultural JSC

Yara Viet Nam Ltd.