Increased pest pressure
According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the Mekong Delta is the main rice production area of Vietnam. In 2025, the total rice area in the region is estimated to reach 4.012 million hectares, output 26.12 million tons, yield 63.43 quintals/ha (compared to 2024, the area increased by 2,740 hectares, output increased by 183,000 tons, yield increased by 0.4 quintals/ha), contributing to ensuring national food security and export.
Chemical pesticide shells and packages are collected and exchanged for gifts by the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Can Tho City in coordination with businesses, contributing to environmental protection in agricultural production.
Can Tho City has 511,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which rice land is about 319,000 hectares (accounting for over 80%). Every year, the rice cultivation area reaches more than 718,000 hectares (for all 3 crops), with an output of nearly 4.5 million tons, making Can Tho one of the four localities with the largest rice production scale in the Mekong Delta. In 2025 alone, the city's rice cultivation area will reach 718,461 hectares, with an output of over 4.7 million tons, providing a large amount of rice for the export market. Ms. Tran Thi Kim Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Can Tho City, commented: “In Can Tho City, rice plays a key role in the agricultural production structure. However, the increase in pests due to weather fluctuations, unsynchronized cultivation and ecological imbalance is clearly affecting productivity and production efficiency. Therefore, the solution of applying scientific and technical advances and using biological products in production is necessary, and is being focused on by the city to implement.”
In 2025, through project activities, production plans... the city's Crop Production and Plant Protection sector will apply scientific and technical advances to achieve the set productivity and quality of rice. In addition, the sector will also support 53 cooperatives, cooperative groups and farming households to implement production certified according to VietGAP and Global GAP processes with an area of 2,583 hectares and 1,587 households applying. The sector also guides farmers to produce organically on rice with an applied area of 20,759 hectares... Gradually bringing clean, quality, safe products that are favored by the market.
However, according to the City's Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, rice production in Can Tho City is significantly affected by many harmful organisms. In 2025, the area infected with pests and diseases tends to increase compared to the same period last year, especially in the winter-spring and autumn-winter crops. Specifically, in the winter-spring crop of 2024-2025, the whole city has 69,372 hectares infected by pests (mainly rats, brown planthoppers, whitefly, leaf rollers, rice blast, grain sterility, rice blast, leaf blight - leaf blight...), an increase of 8,144 hectares compared to the same period in 2024; in the summer-autumn crop, 47,641 hectares were infected, an increase of 10,159 hectares compared to the same period in 2024; In the autumn-winter crop, 36,152 hectares were infected, an increase of 20,703 hectares compared to the same period... According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the pressure on harmful organisms in the fields remains high, especially in the fluctuating weather conditions, prolonged warm and humid climate and the overuse of chemicals, which has caused the population of natural enemies to decline. Pest control by traditional methods is showing many limitations, requiring a switch to safer, more effective and sustainable biological solutions.
Inevitable trend
According to the Vietnam Association of Plant Protection Science and Technology, in recent times, central ministries and branches have had many policies to encourage investment in scientific research and the application of modern technology to create environmentally friendly biological pesticides. Typical examples are Decree No. 66/2016/ND-CP and Decree No. 123/2018/ND-CP of the Government on investment and business conditions in the agricultural sector. Thereby, there has been a policy to reduce the conditions for the production of biological pesticides and the transportation of biological pesticides. The increased use and development of biological pesticides production is also clearly stated in Decision No. 150/QD-TTg dated January 28, 2022 of the Prime Minister on approving the Strategy for sustainable agricultural and rural development for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050... The project on developing the use of biological pesticides to 2030, with a vision to 2050 (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) also identifies the development of production and use of biological pesticides as an inevitable trend globally, an important task creating a foundation and driving force for safe and sustainable agricultural development, minimizing the harmful effects and consequences of using chemical pesticides, protecting the environment and developing biodiversity...
Recently, at the Workshop "Promoting the use of biological products in preventing and controlling harmful organisms on rice towards green and sustainable rice production", the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requested associations in the agricultural sector to mobilize and guide member enterprises to gradually prioritize the production and trading of biological pesticides; coordinate with units under the ministry, localities, enterprises, organizations and related individuals in propagating, training and guiding farmers to use biological pesticides in production; strengthen international cooperation with countries in the region and industries on the production of biological pesticides to link and transfer new generation, effective biological products for agricultural production...
In reality, the development and application of biological pesticides is not only an inevitable trend of green - circular - sustainable agriculture, but also an urgent requirement to minimize soil, water and air pollution caused by chemical residues; protect the rice field ecosystem and maintain beneficial natural enemy populations; increase the commercial value and competitiveness of rice grains in domestic and foreign markets; meet safe production standards in the direction of VietGAP, Global GAP and organic, in line with Vietnam's sustainable agricultural development strategy to 2030...
Ms. Tran Thi Kim Thuy affirmed: To promote the use of biological pesticides, aiming at safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly rice production, Can Tho City needs to synchronously deploy groups of solutions. Typically, strengthening communication through mass media, demonstration models and field workshops to popularize the benefits of biological pesticides, minimizing the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment. Building and replicating "Biological fields". Encouraging institutes, schools and enterprises to research and produce biological pesticides of microbial, herbal and natural extract origin suitable for the climate and soil conditions of Can Tho. Supporting the connection of "4 houses" (State - Scientists - Enterprises - Farmers) to transfer technology and commercialize domestic biological products, helping to reduce costs and proactively supply. Establish a network of agricultural consultants in localities to help farmers get guidance, buy products and receive on-site technical advice. Support preferential credit or subsidies for farmers and cooperatives in the early stages of converting to biological drugs...
Researching, assessing the current situation and proposing specific solutions to promote the use of biological pesticides to prevent and control pests in rice in Can Tho City is an important and urgent task. This is not only an immediate requirement in production, but also a strategic step to protect public health, preserve the ecological environment and affirm the brand "Can Tho Clean Rice" in the domestic and international markets.
Article and photos: HA VAN
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/thuc-day-su-dung-che-pham-sinh-hoc-khang-dinh-thuong-hieu-gao-sach-can-tho--a194660.html
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