Disaster recovery with ... vetiver grass

Can Tho University in collaboration with international experts has just held a seminar on 'Vetiver grass system to overcome natural and environmental disasters in Vietnam'.

Planting vetiver grass on the embankment of Tinh Bien, Tri Ton and An Giang channels

Prof. Nguyen Viet Truong - representative of the international vetiver network in Vietnam, said that in just six years from 1999 to now, vetiver has been present in 40 provinces and almost all over Vietnam .

Embankment of river banks with grass

Dr. Tran Tan Van - Deputy Director of the Institute of Geological Resources and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Vetiver Network Coordinator - said that in the Mekong Delta, it is impossible to apply concreting solutions. billion to protect river banks or residential areas.

He cited only 1km of embankment in Tan Chau town (An Giang), which lost 100 billion VND of the State. But the embankment here is another risk of collapse. Where the revetment still occurs erosion from the inside, concrete blocks have changed the flow and caused landslides across the river bank.

Dr. Van affirmed that vetiver grass can release energy from the vortex flow of flood water to form a natural embankment to protect the infrastructure works very efficiently and cheaply.

The effectiveness of vetiver has been proved by convincing figures by Mr. Tran Van Nau, Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tri Ton district (An Giang). He said: ' Every year the province loses over 3,750,000m3 of land due to landslides, estimated to be over 16 billion VND. The results of planting vetiver grass to prevent wave, flood, subsidence and landslide in flood-prone areas have been effective '.

Over the two flood seasons 2004-2005, vetiver growing areas in the eastern area of ​​the Bay Xa canal project (An Phu, Tan Chau) have not been damaged by landslides. At present, in An Giang, six districts have grown a total length of over 60km, with 1.7 million vetiver grass.

Planting vetiver grass in residential areas, mountain slopes, alum soil areas, term to prevent erosion, retain water and reduce dredging costs every year very effectively. An Giang is striving to plant about 5.8 million vetiver grass patches by 2010, equivalent to 3,088ha.

And 'detoxification' is also with grass

Dr. Le Viet Dung (Can Tho University) said: ' We are proposing the State to implement vetiver grass planting in key locations at high risk of pollution in the Mekong Delta. Through practical tests, it is very promising to use this grass to minimize environmental pollution . '

Dr. Dung explained that Agent Orange and sandy soil when it rains will spread uncontrollably. If vetiver grass is planted, it will create a closed fence with 1-4m deep root system that can prevent leaching and spread of poison.

The root of vetiver has the ability to absorb a lot of water in the soil and can absorb dioxin, retaining it in the roots. In Vietnam, dioxin-rich areas such as A Luoi (Hue) are being funded by the international vetiver network for 'Improving water quality in Vietnam' by growing vetiver grass.

Dr. Tran Tan Van also cited the problem of pollution, he said: ' Not only in the Hau River, but some parts of the country are being polluted by waste from factories, factories and residential areas. Without remedial measures, at least biological measures, surely To Lich River (Hanoi), Ngu River (Bac Ninh) . will be seriously polluted '.

Dr. Van explained: ' The roots of vetiver have very high properties of organic and inorganic substances. The ability to tolerate and improve the environment of this grass in polluted and harsh areas is also many times higher than other plants.

China has used vetiver grass to extract waste from large landfills. Australia uses vetiver grass to treat waste from cattle slaughter houses, bleaching plants and plant protection drugs. In Vietnam, besides growing grass to protect dikes and canals, we are growing vetiver grass to treat wastewater at Cafatex Can Tho Seafood Processing Factory '.

TRAN DUC