Farmers join environmental protection efforts

In recent years, the campaigns on farmers joining efforts to protect the environment and create a civic culture in Nha Trang City have proved effective, attracting a large number of farmers’ association members and officials with many practical models and activities.

Farmer Do Van Sau (Vinh Ngoc Commune) has got used to properly disposing of pesticide containers. Many farmers have changed their habits to keep the environment safe and clean by throwing pesticide packages after use in designated places in the fields, including tanks for used pesticide containers installed by the city's Farmers Association.

Used battery collection containers have been installed to help farmers meet universal waste regulations. 8 used battery collection containers have been installed in public places such as Phuoc Thanh Cultural House, Phuoc Thai Market and A Phuoc Long Urban Area Park in Phuoc Long Ward.

According to Vu Thi Nhung, Chairperson of Phuoc Long Ward Farmers’ Association, most batteries are thrown away in household rubbish bins, which means they are dumped at landfill sites. Batteries contain dangerous chemicals which are extremely toxic to the environment. They leak into the ground, which can cause soil and water pollution, adversely affecting our health.

Phuoc Long Ward Farmers' Association installs a container for used batteries.

Therefore, the Local Farmers’ Association has implemented the model of used battery collection containers to contribute to the fulfillment of criteria for a green and clean environment. After over 1 year of implementation, used battery collection containers in the ward have helped with the proper disposal of 32kg of used batteries for special treatment in accordance with environmental legislation.

In Vinh Nguyen Ward, aquaculturists have developed the habit of trash collection and environmental protection in aquaculture areas and on Nha Trang Bay. Getting rid of the habit of improper disposal of waste, fishermen have also joined hands to pick up trash floating in water and transport it to the mainland for treatment.

Nguyen Van Hoa, Vice-Chairman of Nha Trang City Farmers’ Association said that in recent years, farmers have participated in environmental protection models and activities launched by the association. Every year, members respond to the tree–planting campaign in memory of Uncle Ho, Environmental Action Month, World Environment Day, World Oceans Day, National Week on Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation in Rural Areas, Clean Up the World Campaign; models of self-managed roads, flowery roads, etc.

Every year, the City Farmers’ Association organizes clean-up days to dredge ditches, collect waste; encourage farmers to promote safe agricultural practice and prevent pesticide overuse, helping to improve members and officials’ environmental awareness and responsibilities. In the coming, the association will continue promoting propaganda about environmental issues, focusing on environmental protection and adaptation to climate change.

Since the beginning of the year 2023, the farmers’ associations of communes and wards have developed 10 models of environmental protection such as collection of pesticide containers and used batteries; trash-for-plant exchange and so on.

During nearly 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 20 dated July 21, 2014 by the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Farmers’ Association on "Raising the responsibility of Vietnamese Farmers’ Association for rural environmental protection and climate change adaption", hundreds of training classes on environmental protection and quizzes about environmental laws have been held; more than 20,000 trees have been cultivated together with dozens of other environmental protection and climate change adaptation models.

H.D

Translated by N.T