The Use and Potential Impacts of Pesticides in Chili Farming in the Thanh Binh District, Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the current status and potential risks of pesticide use of 23 chili growing households in the Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province, Vietnam. The result shows that farmers used a total of 40 commercial pesticide names with 43 active ingredients, of which two active ingredients, i.e. Benomyl and Fipronil, were banned. The frequency of pesticide spraying for chili protection averaged at 8.93 times/crop, for weed control at 1.83 times/crop, for pests at 12.43 times/crop, for disease control at 14.48 times/crop and for chili growth promoting at 4.82 times/crop. Farmers sprayed pesticides with higher doses than recommended on the labels when pests and diseases occurred on chili farm. The active ingredients in powder and liquid pesticides of Mancozeb, Metalaxyl, Propined, Difenoconazole, Abamectin and Azoxystrobin have been frequently used with estimated concentrations of 5023±3886.36, 337.71±237.50, 4093.92±3628.57, 289.27±264.73, 31.60±29.02 and 652.57±468.35 g/L/Ha, respectively. The predicted amounts of ineffective use of such pesticides as Benomyl, Cypermethrin, Fosetyl-aluminium, Propiconazole, Tebuconazole, Buprofezin, Chlorfenapyr and Difenoconazole, could pose great risks to the environment and humans. Burning is the main method chosen by chili farmers in the treatment of pesticide packaging after use. The study suggests local environmental managers should train farmers in the use and management of pesticide wastes more appropriately.

Keywords

• pesticides
• frequency
• chili farming
• potential risks
• dong thap province