Assessment of the cost of pollution from starch processing and agricultural production in Ha Tay province, North Vietnam

The study aims to assess the cost of pollution from the different starch processing and agricultural production communes of Ha Tay province, North Vietnam. Values of losses in productivity (crop and fishery), cost of labor for waste collection, replacement cost of water treatment and cleaning public sewage system, opportunity cost of land for waste containment, medical expenses, income forgone due to looses in working days and cost of risk averting measures were estimated from starch processing and agricultural communes. Number of socio-economic factors affected farmer expenditure in health and risk averting measures were determined based on interview of 110 farmers. Cost of pollution was primarily derived from production effects (accounted for 58.84%) in starch processing commune while in agricultural commune, it mainly came from health effects (accounted for 64.18%). All of the components of pollution cost in starch processing commune were higher than in agricultural commune, especially in production (4.82 times) and health (1.58 times). Total cost of pollution in starch processing commune was 2.62 times higher than in agricultural production commune. Farmer households with higher income, bigger family size and starch processing engagement paid more for health and risk averting measures than their counterparts. Farmers households with farther pollution sources, higher education, and knowledge of health protection, male household leader and applying waste management paid lesser for health and risk averting measures than others. Based on the findings of the study, policy-makers and farmers are encouraged to consider cost of pollution as a component of production cost. Government officials at national and local levels are encouraged to formulate and implement policies that would safeguard the farmers and environment. These policies should include investment on human capital in terms of training on capacity building with emphasis on environmental protection and conservation, waste collection and management as well as community organization. Other policies should include improvement of irrigation, infrastructure, and allocation of landfill areas among others.