Mekong Delta faces serious environmental degradation
Environmental degradation in the Mekong Delta region is occurring at an
alarming rate, requiring prompt solutions, the Southwestern
Environmental Protection Department has said.
Environmental degradation in the Mekong Delta region is occurring at an
alarming rate, requiring prompt solutions, the Southwestern
Environmental Protection Department has said.
A survey conducted by the Ho Chi Minh Institute of Tropical Biology found out that farmers in the south spend on average 39.3 USD on pesticides for every hectare of farmland, 43.2 percent higher than their northern peers’ spending.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that the region’s rice growing area increased from 3.2 million hectares in 1995 to 4.1 million hectares in 2012, which is synonymous with the rise in fertiliser use.
Statistics released by the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute show that each hectare of farmland in the region is cultivated with at least 348 kg of fertiliser per annum.
Based on this figure, the institute calculates that the amount of fertiliser used in the entire region since 1995 to be from 1.5-2 million tonnes each year.
Without complete statistics on the use of pesticide in hand, experts, however, estimated that fields were sprayed with at least 10,000 tonnes of pesticide each year.
Aquatic breeding areas also increased from nearly 200,000 hectares in 1995 to 745,000 hectares at present. However, there is a lack of effective treatment solutions to wastes discharged from these farms.
The other reason also lies with rapid urbanisation. As many as 102 million cubic metres of sewage and 600,000 tonnes of solid waste, all untreated, are discharged by 3.6 million urban residents in the region a year.
In addition, solid waste totalling 220,000 tonnes and 47 million litres of liquid waste, plus smoke and noise, discharged by industrial zones and small-scale businesses located in the region each year also contributed to environmental degradation.
The overuse of pesticide and fertilisers for a long time will spoil fertile farming land and consequently deteriorate the ecosystem. Untreated wastes pose potential threats to the environment and people’s health. It’s time to act, fast, drastically and effectively.-VNA
A survey conducted by the Ho Chi Minh Institute of Tropical Biology found out that farmers in the south spend on average 39.3 USD on pesticides for every hectare of farmland, 43.2 percent higher than their northern peers’ spending.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that the region’s rice growing area increased from 3.2 million hectares in 1995 to 4.1 million hectares in 2012, which is synonymous with the rise in fertiliser use.
Statistics released by the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute show that each hectare of farmland in the region is cultivated with at least 348 kg of fertiliser per annum.
Based on this figure, the institute calculates that the amount of fertiliser used in the entire region since 1995 to be from 1.5-2 million tonnes each year.
Without complete statistics on the use of pesticide in hand, experts, however, estimated that fields were sprayed with at least 10,000 tonnes of pesticide each year.
Aquatic breeding areas also increased from nearly 200,000 hectares in 1995 to 745,000 hectares at present. However, there is a lack of effective treatment solutions to wastes discharged from these farms.
The other reason also lies with rapid urbanisation. As many as 102 million cubic metres of sewage and 600,000 tonnes of solid waste, all untreated, are discharged by 3.6 million urban residents in the region a year.
In addition, solid waste totalling 220,000 tonnes and 47 million litres of liquid waste, plus smoke and noise, discharged by industrial zones and small-scale businesses located in the region each year also contributed to environmental degradation.
The overuse of pesticide and fertilisers for a long time will spoil fertile farming land and consequently deteriorate the ecosystem. Untreated wastes pose potential threats to the environment and people’s health. It’s time to act, fast, drastically and effectively.-VNA
You should also see
PM asks for sufficient power supply under any circumstances
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 20 asked ministries, sectors, agencies, localities, and businesses to make forecasts on the situation and prepare response plans to ensure sufficient power supply for production and daily activities under any circumstances.
See more
Environment
Saigon Co.op ties up with Winrock International for waste circulation
Saigon Co.op signed an MoU with non-profit Winrock International in HCM City on April 12 to reduce environmental pollution by developing a waste circulation model, enhancing waste separation at source and raising the extended producer responsibility.
Environment
Solutions proposed to tackle growing challenge of electronic waste
Vietnam faces a growing problem with electronic waste (e-waste), according to a study by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology's Centre of Science-Technology and Environment.
Environment
Contest seeks innovative solutions to recycle plastic
The innovative solution contest 2024 was launched in Hanoi on April 12, aiming to seek solutions in the plastic circular value chain, especially new and creative solutions in improving the capacity to collect, process and recycle plastic packaging.
Environment
Co To calls for actions to prevent plastic pollution in tourism activities
Co To island district in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh has asked local accommodation facilities and travel firms to apply environmental protection measures in tourism business activities to build an island free of plastic bags and other single-use items.
Environment
Eight coastal localities get more support in forestry modernisation
The 4,040 hectares of forests planted and restored in the first phase of the World Bank (WB)-funded Forest Sector Modernisation and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project will receive further care, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a decision on the adjustment of the project investment, an official has said.
