Safe Use Training Programmes in Vietnam

Training farmers on the safe use of pesticides and on the disposal of used packaging.

In 2010 CropLife Vietnam ran two training programmes for farmers on the safe use of pesticides and on the disposal of used packaging.

This training was in two parts:

Safe Use Training:

  • 25 trainers, from six provincial plant protection sub-departments, from member companies of CropLife Vietnam and from Can Tho Agriculture University, were educated.
  • Over 500 rice farmers were directly trained in 27 courses over six provinces.
  • 1,000 farmers participated in three “quiz” style contests. These were organized in three provinces and broadcast on television systems. It is estimated that one and a half million farmers were indirectly trained via watching these contests on their televisions.

Disposal of Used Packages Training:

  • Seven meetings with farmers and local organizations were held to convey the importance of the project.
  • 184 kg of packages were collected and safely disposed of.

Awareness levels of how to read labels increased dramatically, from between 40-68% before training to between 86-95% after training.

A number of articles were published in the Vietnam Agriculture newspaper, as well as in some provincial newspapers and other public media, leading to further awareness.