Investigating the Impacts of Pesticide Use in the Mekong Delta

Catherine Wheeler

The Mekong Delta of Viet Nam is one of Asia's most fertile rice growing

areas. Economic incentives, improved rice strains, greater market

access, and technological innovations now enable the region to produce

up to three crops per year — depending on land and irrigation

conditions — versus one to two annual crops in the past.

But this productivity increase has been accompanied by a dramatic

increase in the use of pesticides per hectare of farm land. Vietnamese

farmers believe that the more pesticides they use, the higher their

rice yield will be. In fact, pesticide overuse results in unnecessary

expenditures, while increasing the exposure of both humans and the

environment to potentially harmful levels of agrochemicals. Possible

environmental impacts include the destruction of rice/fish culture

(farmers raise fish in the flooded paddy fields to augment their diet

and income); the killing of beneficial animals that prey on rice pests;

and air and water pollution.

Economic and health impacts

A recent study by Nguyen Huu Dung, coordinator of the Environmental

Economics Unit at Viet Nam National University, explored the economic

and health impacts of prolonged pesticide use in the Mekong Delta. The

study involved 180 farmers, who were surveyed during the 1996

winter/spring rice growing season. It was financially supported by the

Economy and Environment Program for South East Asia (EEPSEA), which is

sponsored by the International Development Research Centre and eight

other donors.

Mr Dung found that more than 90% of farmers in the Mekong Delta use

pesticides (such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other

chemicals), including several products that have either been banned or

restricted because of their toxicity. Although approximately 65% of the

surveyed group are able to read instruction labels, just 39% actually

understand and follow the directions. As a result, most farmers do not

wear protective equipment such as rubber boots, face masks, and long

sleeves, preferring to work in traditional shorts and singlets

(sleeveless t-shirts). More people would wear protective gear, however,

if it was comfortable and freely available.

The study revealed that more than half of those surveyed were very

concerned about the effects of pesticide exposure on their health. Out

of the 180 farmers, 41.8% had experienced headaches, 26.2% had

experienced dizziness, and 31.4% had experienced skin irritation. Other

frequent symptoms included eye irritation, fatigue, and trouble

sleeping.

Integrated pest management

Mr Dung also examined differences in pesticide application between

Vietnamese farmers who practice integrated pest management (IPM) and

those who do not. In 1992, Viet Nam's Plant Protection Department, part

of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, launched an IPM

training program to help farmers combine natural and chemical pest

control methods. The study found that the training program has had a

significant impact on pesticide use. For example, the proportion of

farmers using banned pesticides, such as methyl parathion, has declined

from 36% in the 1994 dry season planting to 4.5% today.

Other results showed that farmers without IPM training use an average

of 1,081 grams of the active ingredient of pesticide per hectare. By

comparison, IPM-trained farmers use significantly less pesticide (884

grams of active ingredient), choose safer pesticides, and reap larger

harvests at the end of the season. In addition, IPM-trained farmers are

more likely to wear protective equipment when spraying pesticides and

suffer fewer symptoms. "It's very important for Viet Nam to continue

expanding the IPM program," Mr Dung concludes. "IPM is an effective

tool for changing farmers' perceptions and decreasing pesticide use in

rice production."

Reducing pesticide use

To further reduce unnecessary pesticide use in the Mekong Delta, he

recommends that pesticide retailers be trained and licensed to dispense

only the least hazardous pesticides — and that older, extremely

hazardous stocks be phased out. Mr Dung also advocates a tax on

pesticides, along with other disincentives.

"If the price of pesticide goes up, farmers will use it less often and

perhaps more strategically," he explains. "Although [rice yields] will

be somewhat lower, they will actually benefit from using less pesticide

by saving substantially on labour, health, pesticide, and fertilizer

costs."

Catherine Wheeler is a freelance writer and editor based in Singapore.

[Photo: C. Andrew, CIDA]

Resource Person:

Nguyen Huu Dung, Coordinator, Environmental Economics Unit, Viet Nam

National University, 01 Bis Hoang Dieu Street, Phu Nhuan District, Ho

Chi Minh City;

Tel: (848) 844-8222 or 862-6229; Fax (848) 824-1186; E-mail:

[email protected]

February 20, 1998

http://www.idrc.ca/reports/read_article_english.cfm?article_num=207

BBC, 6/2/01 - Pesticide use has risen alongside agricultural expansion

By Owen Bennet-Jones in Hanoi

Hospitals in Vietnam are reporting large numbers of poisoning cases

caused by a misuse of pesticides.

Doctors say they treat hundreds of pesticide-related cases each year

and that some patients die as a result of pesticide poisoning.

A hospital in Ho Chi Minh city says that last year it dealt with nearly

50 fatalities, mostly of farmers who have misused weed and insect

killers.

With the introduction of market mechanisms over the last 10 years,

agricultural production in Vietnam has sharply increased and the

country is now a significant exporter of rice and coffee.

The agricultural boom has been accompanied by a huge increase in the

use of pesticides.

Smuggling clampdown

But many farmers ignore the instructions that come with pesticides and

believe that if they use more of the chemicals then the effect will be

faster.

In addition they often ignore warnings about the need for protective

clothing when using pesticides.

According to Vietnamese newspapers the government has tried to regulate

the pesticide industry and in particular to clamp down on the use of

illegal pesticides, many of which are smuggled into Vietnam from China.

Despite the official efforts to control the situation the newspapers

regularly carry reports of pesticides being misused.

In the Mekong Delta, for example, it's feared that the over use of

chemicals to kill a plague of snails has led to widespread pollution

and damage to the water supply.

Doctors say that some of the victims of pesticide poisoning are

consumers who've eaten fruit and vegetables with too many chemicals on

them but most cases involve the farmers who actually work with the

pesticides.

* Vietnamese farmers suffer from pesticide poisoning

BBC, 6/2/01 - Hospitals in Vietnam are reporting a growing number of

poisoning cases caused by a misuse of pesticides.

Doctors say they treat hundreds of patients each year.

Most of the victims are farmers who've misused weed and insect killers.

Patients experience vomiting and low blood pressure and in more serious

cases die from the poisoning.

The BBC Hanoi correspondent says the introduction of market mechanisms

over the last ten years in Vietnam has led to an agricultural boom

which has been accompanied by a huge increase in the use of pesticides.

He says many farmers ignore the instructions that come with the

chemicals and often disregard warnings about the need for protective

clothing when using them.

[email protected]