Agricultural materials management requires the cooperation of farmers.

The problem of fake, poor quality fertilizers with sophisticated packaging is causing difficulties, especially in remote areas.

Continuously improving the legal system

Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) said that Vietnam has built a complete system of legal documents to manage the field of crop production and plant protection, in which plant protection drugs are regulated in the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine, while fertilizers comply with the Law on Crop Production and related circulars and regulations. "We strictly manage the production and circulation chain through registration, testing, and production. 100% of plant protection drugs must be tested and used properly according to instructions from IPM (integrated pest management) programs," said Mr. Hieu. Fertilizers also undergo strict inspection before being circulated.

Since 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has removed 1,706 trade names and 12 active ingredients of dangerous pesticides, along with 1,265 active ingredients that do not meet standards from the list of uses. In total, more than 1,700 types of pesticides have been removed, demonstrating great efforts in improving safety. Mr. Hieu emphasized: "This paves the way for new generation pesticides, shorter quarantine periods, safer, and better environmental protection." Training and propaganda programs have helped farmers use pesticides properly, at the right dose, and encouraged biological pesticides. However, there is still a situation of chemical abuse, improper mixing, or buying and selling via social networks with unclear origins. With fertilizers, fertilization based on experience and chemical abuse are still common, along with the problem of fake and poor quality fertilizers.

However, the problem of fake and poor quality fertilizers still exists, causing many units managing this field to struggle and farmers to suffer great losses.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu admitted that the problem of fake, poor quality fertilizers with sophisticated packaging is causing difficulties, especially in remote areas where there is a lack of equipment and identification skills. "We need a warning network, training for farmers and officials, and coordination with businesses to make the market transparent," Mr. Hieu said. The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has organized many training sessions and is ready to cooperate with the Farmers' Association for more effective monitoring.

As a long-time researcher of agricultural policies, Mr. Hoang Trong Thuy, former Editor-in-Chief of Rural Magazine, highly appreciated the role of supervision, considering it a measure of agricultural security, promoting the green economy , preventing counterfeit materials, and expanding exports. He commented: "Supervision creates pressure for businesses to comply with the law, but is still limited, especially with fertilizers - difficult to control because the packaging does not clearly state the mixing method". He proposed making the market transparent, providing detailed information on dosage, time of application, and establishing a clear supply chain. "Farmers need to keep documents and material samples to enhance the supervision role", he emphasized.

From 2014 to 2020, the Vietnam Farmers' Union coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to implement a program to monitor laws on the production and trading of agricultural materials. Mr. Do Minh Hai, Deputy Head of the Central Organization and Inspection Department of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, shared: "The program mobilized more than 100,000 propaganda sessions, 6 million participants, distributed more than 400,000 leaflets, and organized nearly 10,000 training courses for 800,000 farmers". As a result, farmers were better able to identify poor quality materials, participate in building safe use models, and protect the environment. The Union established nearly 6,000 monitoring teams, reviewed 7,300 documents, and detected more than 2,600 violations.

However, Mr. Hai pointed out the limitations: monitoring of farmers' use of materials is still weak, inter-sectoral coordination is not synchronized, the capacity of grassroots cadres is limited, and post-monitoring monitoring and handling is not effective. He proposed to strengthen coordination with sectors, innovate propaganda, replicate pilot models, cross-check through clubs such as Farmers with Law Club, Environment Club, and support for deferred payment of fertilizers through the Association's center.

Mr. Hoang Trong Thuy called on farmers to become "smart consumers" by learning, using traceability technology, and participating in scoring input materials through the Association's electronic platform. Mr. Do Minh Hai emphasized: "Farmers need to be aware of their responsibility, avoid short-term profits to protect their health and the environment." Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu advised farmers to learn the law, participate in monitoring, apply the "four rights" (right way, right time, right dose, right target) and together build a clean production movement.

For sustainable development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is promoting the Project "Improving soil health and plant nutrition management by 2030", combined with the biological plant protection strategy. The Ministry also aims to lead the region in the use of biological pesticides by 2050, reducing dependence on chemicals. This requires the active participation of farmers in monitoring, with support from the government and businesses.

The Farmers’ Association needs to continue to coordinate with professional agencies, organize training courses at the same time, build a modern laboratory system and a national warning network to support farmers. When farmers become “smart consumers”, as recommended by Mr. Hoang Trong Thuy, they will lead the clean production movement, contributing to building a transparent, responsible, and globally competitive agriculture by 2030.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/quan-ly-vat-tu-nong-nghiep-can-co-su-chung-tay-cua-nguoi-nong-dan-102250520100405672.htm