Hung Yen cuts pesticide use by around 40% in spring crop

Accelerating IPHM adoption

The 2026 spring rice crop in Hung Yen is now entering the harvest period in several early-sown areas. According to farmers in Hung Ha commune, rice yields for this crop are comparable to previous years, while pest and disease incidence has declined and pesticide use has also decreased.

In addition to favorable weather conditions, the application of scientific and technological advances and mechanization in production, the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Plant Health Management (IPHM), and the use of pesticides under the "4 rights" principle (right medicine, right timing, right dosage and ratio, and right method), have contributed to the reduced incidence of pests and diseases in Hung Yen's spring rice crop this year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Trang, Deputy Director of the Hung Yen Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province's agricultural sector is focusing on transforming production methods toward safe, green, and sustainable practices, with rice production remaining a key pillar while being repositioned in terms of quality and added value.

Specifically, on existing cultivated areas, the locality is prioritizing the implementation of safe rice production processes aimed at exports. The application of the IPHM process is being stepped up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while the use of biological products for pest control and crop care is also being strengthened. This approach not only helps protect the environment but also improves rice productivity and value.

"In areas with natural advantages, the provincial agricultural sector is promoting multi-value production models. Specifically, the integration of rice cultivation with clam worm harvesting, sea duck farming, or aquaculture is being encouraged to increase economic efficiency on the same land area. These areas are also being oriented toward organic production to create high-value and environmentally friendly products," Mr. Nguyen Van Trang said.

To realize these orientations, Hung Yen is implementing a range of large-scale production linkage projects. Among them is a cooperation project with Thaco Agri Group to develop a concentrated rice production area of more than 1,000 hectares, applying synchronized mechanization from tillage to harvesting while supplying raw materials for processing. In addition, concentrated production zones operating under linkage chains and multi-value models across the province are expected to reach around 50,000 hectares.

Pesticide use reduced by around 40%

The 2026 spring rice crop in Hung Yen has been assessed as stable, with pests and diseases effectively controlled thanks to practical forecasting efforts and the stronger application of safe and sustainable pest management measures.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Hang, Deputy Head of the Plant Protection Division under the Hung Yen Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, from the beginning of the crop season, specialized agencies proactively advised on plans to prevent and control pests while assigning staff to closely monitor fields, weather developments, and pests in order to issue timely forecasts.

The overarching principle is to use pesticides only when pest and disease levels reach the economic damage threshold while prioritizing biological products and strictly following the "4 rights" principle. IPM and IPHM measures continue to be promoted, alongside the encouragement of high-tech applications such as drones for pesticide spraying.

This year's spring crop has seen a mix of favorable and unfavorable conditions. At the beginning of the season, warm weather, low rainfall, and the absence of prolonged severe cold spells created favorable conditions for tillage, sowing, and care. Rice plants recovered quickly after transplanting and began tillering early.

On the other hand, from mid-April to early May, weak cold fronts combined with rainfall created favorable conditions for the emergence of several pests and diseases, including rice leaf folder, sheath blight, planthoppers, bacterial leaf blight, and bacterial leaf streak. Notably, rice blast disease posed a risk of outbreak in susceptible rice varieties during the heading stage.

In response to these developments, specialized agencies promptly guided farmers to spray preventive treatments against blast disease at the appropriate time. As a result, pest and disease pressure has so far been assessed as lower than in the same period of 2025 and below the multi-year average, with most rice-growing areas remaining safe.

Trung Nghia Agricultural Service Cooperative in Pho Hien Ward is proactively implementing plant protection measures to reduce costs and minimize negative environmental impacts. Mr. Tran Viet Dong, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative, said the cooperative plays a central role in organizing pest and disease control, from field monitoring to guiding farmers on treatment measures. One notable change has been the stricter control over pesticide use. The cooperative only launches spraying campaigns when pest and disease levels reach damaging thresholds, instead of conducting periodic spraying as in the past.

For areas with localized infestations, the cooperative contacts each household directly to implement treatment measures, avoiding indiscriminate spraying that causes unnecessary costs and environmental pollution. Thanks to this approach, pesticide use during the crop season has reduced by around 40% compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, the cooperative has coordinated with specialized agencies to determine specific control thresholds for each pest, providing farmers with a clear basis for deciding when to apply pesticides. The "4 rights" principle continues to be strictly applied to improve the efficiency of pest control while ensuring worker safety during spraying operations.

Beyond pesticide application, the Cooperative also focuses on collecting and treating used pesticide packaging. Collection bins have been installed along in-field transport routes, encouraging farmers to collect packaging after use. At the end of each crop season, the cooperative organizes collection and treatment activities to minimize the risk of environmental pollution.

Alongside plant protection efforts in the fields, local authorities have also paid special attention to the management of used pesticide bottles and packaging. The province currently has around 5,400 collection tanks for pesticide packaging installed across fields to facilitate waste collection by local residents.

Localities organize centralized collection activities and sign contracts with units qualified to treat hazardous waste in accordance with regulations. Awareness-raising campaigns are carried out through training courses, demonstration models, and direct communication in the fields, helping improve environmental awareness among the majority of farmers.