Part 1: Plant protective agents should be resonably used

Administering plant protective agents without following any principles and guidelines bears the risky effects on health of people in direct exposure, on living environment, and production community.To change the habitOld-school habit has deeply rooted in farmers who consider plant protective agents as their savior in crop production. They even think that the more condense the better, leading in abuse of the agents for various plants. This, if persisting for long-term, shall create unpredictable consequences. Farmers in Phu Giao District are spraying agents to treat Corynespora on their rubber trees by self-made machine, which is considered as unsafe and ineffective method Firstly on effectiveness, density of use or contents does not mean effectiveness but costly failure.Accordingly to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, Deputy Director of Binh Duong Plant Protection Agency, awareness of plant protective agent use has been improved dramatically thanks to information dissemination and education of the farmers.However, in the larger picture, awareness of farmers in many localities falls short due to unbalanced training and dissemination of information.Any specialist can tell the 4 principles of rightfulness: doses, agents, timing, and objectives. Failing to following the principles may lead to great effects on agricultural production. Mr. Le Van Phan of Tru Van Tho Commune in Ben Cat District said that he should consider his status before administer plant protective agents or fertilizers due to health risks of such administration which may cause dizziness or nausea let alone long-term accumulation of the agents.Mr. Bui Van Quen, Chair of Phu Giao District Farmer Association informed that his association has coordinated with agencies and unit to implement information dissemination about the efficient use of plant protective agents.“For the time to come, we shall continue with information dissemination so that the farmers shall be more skillful in administering plant protective agents,” said Quen.Training and information dissemination to be promotedAnnually, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development lists and blacklists plant protective agents due to their toxicity and risks on the environment and community health.As informed by Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, chemical use would be the final exit in agricultural production as other measures should fail; however, farmers in Binh Duong Province have been so bound to chemical use on their plants which may bring up long-term health issues.Farmers usually ignore guides and warnings of health risks announced on label of plant protective agents let alone consideration of protection gear upon spraying the agents.The very clear example of such practice is the spraying of agent to treat Corynespora and other diseases on rubber trees. To save cost, many plantation owners ‘invented’ their spraying method of extending the pipe tied to a long stick to reach for leaves above.Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam has announced the improvement of information dissemination to improve awareness of plant protective agents among local farmers in a bid to apply the best protective measures for their plants.Reported by Cao Son – Translated by Vi Bao