Organizing production chain to better manage the use of pesticides

Organizing production chain to better manage the use of pesticides is one of solutions proposed in the conference 'Orientating the plant protection in the new context' to overcome the current problems of the plant protection industry, especially controlling the use of pesticides.

According to the Director of Department of Plant Protection, Hoang Trung, climate change has become more and more evident during recent years, not only negatively affecting plant growth but also causing new harmful organisms or changing rules of harm incurred by pests, and causing various difficulties to forecast and direct the prevention. In addition, in order to meet the increasing demand of the domestic consumer for safe food and the requirements of the signed free trade agreements (FTA), and to overcome the raising technical barriers to phytosanitary and food safety, it is vital to enhance capacity of human resource in plant protection sector to apply new technologies in management and forecast, etc.

It is necessary to promote the organization and implementation of production and consumption chain to well manage the use of pesticides, ensure food safety for domestic consumer products as well as meet export requirements. Production linkage is also a significant factor to collect pesticide packages after use not to pollute the environment.

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that the abuse of pesticides recently led to the increase in expense of agricultural production and the negative impact on the environment. Given the threat of climate change posing the risk of the epidemic of diseases and the increasingly strict market demand for product quality, plant protection activities must change in order to respond to the new situation. The Minister required that pesticides, especially herbicides and high toxicants, be reduced rapidly. The plant protection sector was required to coordinate with control units to prevent smuggling pesticides, which were not controlled with their quality, quantity and use. The pesticides distribution network, especially intermediary services, was required to improve. Producers, suppliers and consumers should be directed to use environmentally friendly pesticides such as biopesticides to gradually replace chemical pesticides. It was advised to apply advanced and environmentally friendly technologies and techniques into production.

 “We must accept the economic efficiency at an appropriate and sustainable level, instead of pushing to high productivity and output as the ultimate goal,” said the Minister.