Let straw not be a burden to the environment!

Every year, across the country, tens of millions of tons of rice straw are burned, not only a huge waste but also causing direct and indirect damage in areas such as traffic, environment, quality of agricultural land. Karma. The environmental damage alone is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars per year.

Burning rice straw often does not burn into flames, so there are many harmful gases in the smoke such as CO, CO2, SO2, NO2. Exhaust all toxic gas In 2020, the Hanoi People’s Committee issued Directive No. 15/CT-UBND on strengthening state management measures for the illegal burning of straw, crop by-products and other wastes in order to minimize the negative impact on the city environment. Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Co, Hanoi National University, said that now there are many researches and solutions to treat rice straw and limit post-harvest burning. However, the solutions need to be thoroughly researched, scientific and feasible. To solve the problem that needs to be studied to the end, we have had many studies such as converting tablets to burn, making mushrooms, and making manure. But the most basic is how to organize, where is the funding? Accordingly, from January 1, 2021, 100% of rice straw and crop by-products generated will be collected, reused or treated to meet environmental technical requirements; No more burning of straw, crop by-products and domestic solid waste in contravention of regulations in the city. However, at the beginning of June is the spring rice harvest of 2021, in many fields of the city, farmers continue to repeat the situation of burning straw. Typically in Soc Son district, people in communes: Phu Lo, Mai Dinh, Phu Cuong, Thanh Xuan, Tien Duoc… burn rice straw near Noi Bai International Airport, affecting the visibility of aircraft when taking off. , landing. Every year, the Northern Airport Authority must send an official dispatch to Soc Son district to take measures to prevent this situation. The Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the rate of burning straw in the spring crop is about 20%, higher than that of the crop. However, the actual number in districts is much larger such as: Thuong Tin, Thanh Oai accounted for 50%, Thach That 45%, Chuong My 37%, Thanh Tri 33%, Me Linh 30%, Soc Son 25. %… This situation not only causes traffic insecurity but also creates dust, smoke, greenhouse gas emissions, heat causing serious environmental pollution… Environmental experts analyze, burning rice straw often does not burn. As a result, the smoke contains many small dust particles and produces many harmful gases such as CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, affecting people’s health and increasing air pollution in the burning area as well as in the burning area. surrounding areas. Let straw not be a burden to the environment Prof. Dr. Pham Van Toan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), shared that in the past, rice straw was considered a multi-purpose by-product for Vietnamese farmers (using for cooking, roofing, animal feed, etc.). But when the farming industry thrives, rice production is increasing, the annual source of rice straw generated in Vietnam is very large (estimated at about 50 million tons/year), then the straw is redundant and becomes waste to be treated. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Vietnam currently burns more than 20 million tons of rice straw each year. Many localities have promoted the application of mechanization (straw roll machine) in the collection and transportation of straw. It is recommended that the application of biological products to treat rice straw after harvest into organic fertilizer for agriculture, contributing to minimizing environmental pollution. Facing the uncontrolled burning of straw in suburban districts, in the two years 2017 – 2018, Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment introduced to 19 districts in the city a model of using bio-products. Learn to process rice straw into organic fertilizer, and at the same time support 50% of the cost of probiotics for farmers. Dan Phuong district (Hanoi) has an area of ​​​​about 2,500 hectares of rice cultivation. Every year, it has to process 37.5 thousand tons of rice straw and agricultural by-products. After 3 years of implementing the model “Field without burning straw”, using biological products to compost straw into organic fertilizer in 9 communes for growing crops, until now, the situation of burning straw The field is almost nonexistent. According to Mr. Thieu Van Son – Chairman of Dan Phuong District Farmers’ Association, this solution brings “dual” benefits of both improving crop productivity and protecting people’s health. But unfortunately, after a short pilot period and narrow scope, the project ended, the localities were not interested in communicating about the long-term benefits to farmers, so the straw returned to the reluctant treatment. is dried, burned. Strictly handle the act of burning straw in violation of regulations The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has just sent a written request to the People’s Committees of the provinces and cities to direct the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Information and Communications, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; People’s Committees of districts, towns and cities organize propaganda and mobilization to prevent people from spontaneously burning waste, burning rice straw and agricultural by-products after harvesting crops; assigned Farmers and Women’s Unions, Youth Union to organize for members, union members and farmer households to sign a commitment not to burn rice straw in the field. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also suggested that provinces and cities need to develop projects and tasks to guide farmers to implement measures to maximize collection, treatment and thorough processing of by-products, post-harvested rice straw into useful products. At the same time, direct the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Environmental Police, and local authorities at district, ward, and commune levels to strengthen inspection and strictly handle the improper burning of waste and agricultural by-products after harvest; direct Traffic Inspectors and Traffic Police to inspect and strictly handle vehicles carrying soil, stones, construction materials, and daily-life solid waste that are not covered, causing environmental pollution.