Pollution and Health: A Global Public Health Crisis
Explore our main reportThe Rainforest Alliance is working to promote Integrated Pest Management in Vietnam
As part of the Environmental Pollution Programme, the design and implementation of this project have been accomplished through a collaborative effort with the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) and funded with UK aid from the UK government. The Rainforest Alliance is leading this 3-year project on Integrated Pest Management in Vietnam.
The project is researching pesticide use and alternatives, mainly focusing on three agricultural products: coffee, tea, and pepper. The project focuses on the key requirements of Rainforest Alliance Certification to reduce the impacts of climate change through biodiversity in the agricultural sector.
Excessive use of pesticides disrupts the balance of agricultural ecosystems and negatively impacts human health and the environment. A healthy ecosystem can improve crop quality and productivity by controlling natural pests through natural enemies and improving soil fertility.
IPM is an approach that combines different practices to promote ecosystem health and manage pests sustainably. IPM includes prevention, monitoring, and implementation of biological control methods. Pesticides should only be used as a last resort.
The IPM project’s strategic goal is to help farmers improve pest control by balancing ecosystem functions and reducing dependence on pesticides.
The IPM strategy includes creating an “IPM knowledge bank” to support farmers in their journey towards regenerative agriculture and sustainable pest control, developing IPM solutions for different products and regions, and improving the farmers’ understanding of IPM through the Field Farmer School training model. The model focuses on testing, demonstration, and exchange of experiences, supports approaches to reduce pesticide use at companies, and replicates the model in Vietnam and other countries in the region.
Since the beginning of the project (July 2022), the project has conducted field surveys, monitored and evaluated coffee, pepper, and tea farms, and provided information for farmers to better understand pesticide use and IPM implementation by farmers on three products: coffee, pepper, and tea.
The project surveyed 6 provinces with 150 samples, collecting secondary data and primary data by direct interview at the gardens with 59 questions and observations about the farms, crops, pests, costs, and benefits of IPM; building 24 models; providing technical support; share experiences; supplementing and completing documents to change farmers' perceptions.
In a survey at Phu Da Tea Company, one of the project’s participants shows that, although the project’s duration is only 8 months, the IPM program has initially brought positive results, such as: Reducing the use of pesticides, Raising awareness of the farmers on planting, protecting and managing grass, tea plants, trees towards a green, clean environment. Therefore, farmers have changed their practices and used IPM technical measures (through the DEMO Farm).
RA held a workshop in Hanoi in the fall of last year to discuss the progress of the project. Participants representing the tea, coffee, and pepper industries from across Vietnam expressed their enthusiasm for the project and the potential for scaling up within their sectors and across the country. They also discussed the need for local and national government support to grow IPM throughout the agricultural sector, as well as the support of private partners and export companies in prioritizing the purchase of RA-certified products.
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. They are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote human rights, and help the farmers mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.
GAHP was established in 2012, with more than 60 members from organizations and countries around the world, to reduce mortality and illness rates caused by large-scale environmental pollution in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). UK Aid specializes in support for small and medium-sized civil society organizations (CSOs), working towards sustainable poverty reduction and implementing the UN's global goals.