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Poultry Waste Disposal Pit in Bac Giang |
The risk of an outbreak and occurrence of avian influenza is very high, yet hundreds of farming households that rely on vegetable cultivation in neighborhoods 3, 4, and 5 of Hiep Thanh Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City remain indifferent and unconcerned about using chicken manure for fertilizing their crops. The vegetable farmers have stated that all the nearly ten types of vegetables they grow are fertilized exclusively with chicken manure.
Many locals claim they have to rent land for vegetable cultivation, having already spent tens of millions of dong, making it impossible to stop. Over the past few months, as the risk of an outbreak has increased, the price of chicken manure has also risen to 12,000 VND per bag (up from 6,000 VND per bag previously).
Anticipating difficulties with the chicken manure supply, many farmers have started stockpiling it. Right next to each household’s vegetable garden, there are large piles of chicken manure with hundreds of uncovered bags emitting a strong foul odor. The amount of chicken manure consumed in this area is significant, with an average of 300-400 bags purchased per household each month (with 100 bags used per 1,000 square meters each month).
Many residents living nearby are very concerned about the use and storage of chicken manure in this area. They worry about their own health and the health of the vegetable farmers who are directly exposed to chicken manure—a serious source of avian influenza infection.
TRAN HUYNH
