Hanoi's push for green agriculture bears fruit

THE HANOI TIMES — After nearly two years of implementing Resolution No. 08/2023/NQ-HDND of the Hanoi People's Council on policies to promote agricultural development, including key provisions on environmental protection, numerous green agriculture models have taken shape and shown convincing and positive results.

From awareness to action

Once littered with pesticide bottles and packaging, many fields in Me Linh District have become noticeably cleaner as local farmers embrace the concept of environmentally friendly farming.

Nguyen Thi Chinh, Director of the Me Linh District Agricultural Service Center, said the district launched the "Pesticide Packaging-Free Field" model by raising public awareness about environmental protection. The program also includes support for bioproducts to treat crop residues and straws, specialized containers for pesticide waste, and oxygenation equipment for aquaculture, all of which have yielded positive results.

"In the past, people would just throw empty pesticide packets by the canal or at the edge of the fields," said Ta Thi Kim Hang, a resident of Lien Mac Commune. "But thanks to the clean field model, everyone is now more aware of proper disposal and keeping the environment clean."

Me Linh is one of several districts adopting new agricultural models that aim to change traditional practices and build a more sustainable living environment across Hanoi. According to Ta Van Tuong, Deputy Director of Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city has spent over VND28 billion (US$1.1 million) on environmental protection in agriculture. This includes the distribution of nearly 10,000 pesticide waste containers and the treatment of nearly 4,800 hectares of straw with biological products in districts such as Me Linh, Son Tay, Quoc Oai, and Gia Lam. The city has also helped 85 livestock farms and nearly 1,000 hectares of aquaculture to adopt new environmental treatment technologies.

Using bioproducts instead of open burning to dispose of straw and converting agricultural by-products into organic fertilizer helps clean fields, restore soil nutrients, reduce pests, lower fertilizer costs, and increase productivity. As a result, open burning of straw has been significantly reduced, leading to improved air quality, particularly in rice-growing areas.

“These results show that the policy is not only improving agricultural productivity but also raising environmental awareness among farming communities,” Tuong said.

Preliminary results

Building on this momentum, Hanoi plans to allocate an additional VND35 billion ($1.4 million) in 2025 to support environmental protection in crop farming. In the livestock sector, 457 farms in districts such as My Duc, Thach That, Phuc Tho, Me Linh, and Chuong My will receive VND16 billion ($640,000). For aquaculture, about 1,054 hectares in Ba Vi, Thanh Oai, and Ung Hoa will be supported with over VND15 billion ($600,000).

Nguyen Trong Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Phu Xuyen District People's Committee, noted that to ensure effective implementation, the district is actively working with relevant departments to design support plans that fit local needs. It is also continuing to train farmers on the safe use of pesticides, proper waste collection, and the use of organic bedding for livestock.

As the lead agency, Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it would continue to coordinate with other agencies to monitor policy implementation and intensify public communication through conferences and local outreach. The city will also expand environmentally friendly agricultural models, promote waste treatment technologies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain.

In practice, environmental protection models not only advance green agriculture, but also bring real economic benefits, improve the quality of agricultural products, and open up opportunities for safe, modern farming. The shift from "more and faster" to "cleaner and more sustainable" and from chemical dependence to biotechnology is increasingly seen as essential.

These achievements affirm that Hanoi’s environmental policy in agriculture is bringing a new “green” to the countryside, offering hope for a sustainable, modern agricultural future that protects public health today and for generations to come. This progress will require continued collaboration among authorities at all levels and, most importantly, strong support from the people.