Hue tightens control over post-harvest straw burning

In recent years, the practice of burning straw in fields has persisted in several localities across Hue, causing significant air pollution, affecting public health, and posing fire hazards and risks to traffic safety.

To strengthen management, raise public awareness, and effectively implement solutions to minimize this practice, the city has tasked the Department of Agriculture and Environment with developing inspection plans and reporting on straw-burning activities during the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop season.

At the same time, the department is responsible for guiding farmers on technical solutions, such as the use of biological products and the large-scale mechanized collection and treatment of straw directly in the fields. Authorities are also required to regulate irrigation water appropriately during land preparation stages to ensure the effectiveness of biological decomposition methods. In addition, communication efforts will be intensified to disseminate environmental protection regulations, while proactively connecting organizations and businesses to participate in value chains and purchase baled straw products.

The city’s police force has been assigned to provide professional guidance and supervise the enforcement of penalties by commune-level police. Authorities will also review and publicly disclose violations on the Hue-S digital platform and hold local police units accountable for failing to fulfill assigned duties or reporting requirements.

People’s Committees at the commune and ward levels are instructed to direct cooperatives to develop detailed plans to increase and mobilize straw-baling machinery, ensuring timely collection aligned with cropping schedules. Cooperatives, production groups, and members are required to sign commitments not to burn straw in areas where collection capacity is sufficient.

In parallel, localities are encouraged to implement effective straw collection models and actively seek outlets for agricultural by-products. Straw can be repurposed for mushroom cultivation, processed into livestock feed, or used with microbial products to produce organic fertilizers. Authorities are also required to establish inspection teams and strictly enforce administrative penalties for burning agricultural residues, especially in areas near residential zones, major roads, and airports.

During the 2025-2026 winter-spring crop, Hue has cultivated a total of 27,587 hectares of rice. Currently, the main crop is in the flowering stage and is developing well.