Using fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides in agricultural production in Vietnam – discussion from the perspective of ecological and sustainable economics

Abstract

Over the past few years, food prices have risen sharply and the food shortage occurs in many parts of the world. There is no other way out, many countries are forced to intensify in agricultural production and increase the paddy yield, while fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides play an important role. The overuse - regarded as crisis/tsunami of fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide - caused adverse externalities: pollution, strong influence on the ecosystems and human health. On the basis of the official statistics and data of own independent survey the paper analyzed the overuse of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides in terms of ecological and sustainable economics, and discussed about the necessary steps to convert to the organic/ecological farming.