Pollution Control Options for Handicraft Villages: The Case of Duong Lieu Village in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

This study from Vietnam looks at the pollution problem caused by the processing of agricultural products in the Red River Delta. It also assesses the cost-effectiveness of various pollution control options. The study is the work of Nguyen Mau Dung from Hanoi University of Agriculture and Tran Thi Thu Ha from Vietnam University of Forestry. It focuses on a village where 95% of households are engaged in cassava starch processing. It finds that this activity is a significant source of pollution, which is seriously affecting the health of local rivers and local people. The study recommends that a wastewater treatment plant for the whole village is set up and that wastewater fees are collected from households engaged in agro-processing activities. It also recommends that the sewerage system in the village is improved, that households are involved in environmental clean-up work and that steps are taken to encourage cleaner production technologies in the agro-product processing industry. This study is timely and important because processing agricultural products is one of the most important 'handicraft' activities in Vietnam's Red River Delta. This activity provides jobs, improves household incomes and helps alleviate poverty. However, it also generates a huge amount of waste and is a source of serious pollution. Therefore, finding a solution that will cost-effectively clean up the pollution caused by agro-product processing is a vital part of sustainable development in the region.