JOINT CIRCULAR No. 02-LB/TT guiding the implementation of Decree No. 13-CP dated March 2, 1993 of the Government on agricultural extension work.

JOINT CIRCULAR

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRIES OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FORESTRY, AQUATIC RESOURCES, FINANCE, AND THE STATE ADMINISTRATION OF CIVIL SERVICE DECREE NO. 02-LB/TT AUGUST 2, 1993 GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 13-CP MARCH 2, 1993 ON EXTENSION WORK

Pursuant to Decree No. 15-CP dated March 2, 1993 on the tasks, powers, and responsibilities for state management of ministries and ministerial-level agencies.
Pursuant to Decree No. 13-CP dated March 2, 1993 promulgating regulations on extension work.
The Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Forestry, Aquatic Resources, Finance, and the State Administration of Civil Service guide the implementation as follows:

I. NATIONAL EXTENSION SYSTEM:

1. At the Central Level:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the permanent agency for extension work under the Government, with the following tasks:

- Developing national extension programs and projects related to agriculture, forestry, and aquatic resources sectors, to be submitted to the Government for approval.

- Monitoring, urging, coordinating extension activities, implementing agricultural, forestry, and fisheries extension programs and projects of the respective sectors, and compiling reports to the Government.

- Participating in the evaluation of extension programs and projects and reviewing extension funding for the sectors and levels.

a. Extension Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

The National Extension Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assists the Minister in managing state affairs regarding agricultural extension throughout the country; it has legal personality, its own seal, and separate accounts. Its headquarters is located in Hanoi.

The National Extension Center has the following tasks:

- Developing and directing the implementation of extension programs and projects related to crop production, animal husbandry, plant protection, veterinary services, storage, and processing of agricultural products, among others, according to each specialized field and ecological region nationwide. Guiding localities and voluntary extension organizations in building and implementing extension programs and projects.

- Participating in the evaluation of extension programs and projects as prescribed by the Ministry.

- Organizing and directing the dissemination and transfer of advanced technologies, exemplary production experiences, skill training, technical knowledge, economic management, market information, and prices to farmers.

- Establishing relations with domestic and foreign economic and social organizations to attract capital or directly participate in extension activities.

- Developing and guiding the implementation of cultivation and breeding techniques and standards.

- Managing the quality of crop and livestock seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, etc., in the market.

- Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of extension programs and projects.

The Center also has offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang but does not increase staffing, nor does it have separate seals and accounts.

b. Forestry Extension Agency under the Ministry of Forestry:

The Forest Industrial Production Department assists the Minister of Forestry in managing state affairs regarding forestry extension throughout the country with the following tasks:

- Developing forestry extension policies to be submitted to the Government for issuance or issued within its authority.

- Developing and directing the implementation of national forestry extension programs and projects related to planting trees, establishing forests, integrated agriculture-forestry systems, forest gardens, forest protection, ecological protection, wood processing, and guiding localities and voluntary forestry extension organizations in building and implementing forestry extension programs and projects, preparing opinions to assist the Minister in approving forestry extension projects.

- Guiding the dissemination and transfer of advanced forestry technologies, skill training, technical knowledge, economic management, and providing market and price information for farmers.

- Establishing relations with domestic and foreign economic and social organizations to attract capital or directly participate in forestry extension activities.

- Participating in the development of procedures and standards for planting, harvesting, and processing wood.

c. Fisheries Extension Agency under the Ministry of Aquatic Resources:

The Fishery Management Department assists the Minister of Aquatic Resources in managing state affairs regarding fisheries extension with the following tasks:

- Developing fisheries extension policies to be submitted to the Government for issuance or issued within its authority.

- Developing and directing the implementation of national fisheries extension programs and projects related to aquaculture, fishing, processing, protecting aquatic resources, and guiding localities and voluntary fisheries extension organizations in building and implementing fisheries extension programs and projects, preparing opinions to assist the Minister in approving fisheries extension projects.

- Guiding the dissemination and transfer of advanced fisheries technologies, skill training, technical knowledge, economic management, and providing market and price information for fishermen.

- Establishing relations with domestic and foreign economic and social organizations to attract capital or directly participate in fisheries extension activities.

- Participating in the development of procedures and standards for aquaculture, fishing, processing, service provision, and protecting aquatic resources.

- Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of fisheries extension programs and projects.

2. At the Local Level:

a. In provinces where the three sectors of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries are organized into one department, establish a Provincial Extension Center under that department.

In provinces where the three sectors are organized into two or three separate departments, establish a Provincial Extension Center under the Department of Agriculture (or Agriculture-Forestry). The tasks of forestry and fisheries extension will be assigned to suitable units under the Departments of Forestry and Aquatic Resources respectively. In this case, a Provincial Extension Coordination Board will be established, comprising representatives from the Department of Agriculture (or Agriculture-Forestry), Forestry, and Aquatic Resources, with the Department of Agriculture (or Agriculture-Forestry) serving as the permanent body. The Provincial Extension Coordination Board is responsible for harmonizing and coordinating extension activities in the province.

The Provincial Extension Center is a public service unit, having legal personality, its own seal, and separate accounts.

b. Tasks of the Provincial Extension Center

- Establishing and guiding the implementation of agricultural extension programs and projects at the provincial level, within each ecological sub-region, and in various fields of work at the local level; guiding agricultural extension organizations (including voluntary organizations); establishing and implementing agricultural extension programs and projects.

- Popularizing and transferring advanced agricultural, forestry, fisheries technologies, and production experiences and exemplary models to farmers;

- Training technical knowledge, economic management, and honing skills for grassroots agricultural extension staff; providing farmers with market information and prices for agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products;

- Engaging with domestic and international organizations to attract funding or directly participate in agricultural extension activities at the local level;

- Participating in the development and dissemination to farmers of intensive crop and livestock production techniques, forestry, and aquaculture processes;

- Summarizing and evaluating the implementation of agricultural extension programs and projects at the provincial level;

Based on the above tasks assigned to the Agricultural Extension Center, the Forestry Department, and the Fisheries Department, specific tasks are defined for the forestry and fisheries extension units within each department;

The Provincial Agricultural Extension Center organizes Agricultural Extension Stations (including forestry and fisheries stations) according to districts, inter-districts, or clusters of villages;

The Agricultural Extension Station has the following tasks:

- Introducing advanced technologies from agricultural, forestry, and fisheries extension programs and projects into widespread production in the area under its responsibility;

- Developing demonstration models;

- Providing technical guidance to farmers, foresters, and fishermen;

- Organizing visits to learn from exemplary models;

- Training and conducting workshops on technical, economic, and market issues for grassroots agricultural extension staff;

- Establishing farmer clubs for excellent producers or groups of households interested in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries;

c. At the grassroots level: Communes, cooperatives, production groups, inter-villages, and inter-hamlets (collectively referred to as grassroots levels) establish networks of grassroots agricultural extension staff. Grassroots agricultural extension staff are not part of the state's permanent staffing, working under long-term or short-term contracts. Grassroots agricultural extension staff perform duties and enjoy benefits as stipulated in their contracts;

3. Regarding the staffing of the agricultural extension system at the central and local levels;

Determining the permanent staffing of agricultural extension organizations at all levels based on the volume of ongoing work, with the spirit of efficiency and streamlined operations; mainly recruiting scientific and technical personnel and managers currently within the state's permanent staffing. The specific number of permanent positions for central and local agricultural extension organizations is approved annually by the State for the Ministry and localities;

Non-ongoing tasks shall be implemented through contracts with scientific and technical personnel and managers from research institutes, universities, vocational schools, and other organizations and individuals with relevant expertise. Based on clearly defined functions and tasks of the Agricultural Extension Center, the functions, tasks, staffing, and state administrative organization of the Departments should be reassessed to avoid overlap and multiple departments performing the same task, which hinders overall work;

II. VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION ORGANIZATIONS:

Voluntary agricultural extension organizations are agricultural extension organizations established by research institutions, teaching and training institutions, mass organizations, economic and social organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally to implement one or more aspects of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries extension work and are granted permission to operate by competent authorities; specifically:

For voluntary agricultural extension organizations established within a province, the Provincial People's Committee Chairman grants permission;

For organizations and individuals engaged in foreign agricultural extension work in Vietnam and central economic organizations, permission is granted by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Voluntary agricultural extension organizations may participate in state agricultural extension programs and projects, and participate in specialized training programs through contracts with state agricultural extension organizations;

The operating capital of voluntary agricultural extension organizations comes from self-generated funds, revenue from extension task contracts, or financial support from private economic and social organizations both domestically and internationally;

If voluntary agricultural extension organizations operate as businesses or companies, they must register for business and fulfill tax obligations to the state as prescribed by law;

During operation, if voluntary agricultural extension organizations violate registered content and harm farmers, they will be held accountable and their operating permits may be revoked;

Voluntary agricultural extension organizations that were operating before March 2, 1993, must re-register to continue operations;

III. POLICIES FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

Based on Article 7 and Article 8 regarding funding for agricultural extension work issued with Decree No. 13-CP dated March 2, 1993, by the Government, the Ministries provide detailed guidance as follows:

1. Sources of funding for agricultural extension activities include:

a. Annual state budget allocation;

b. Financial support from economic and social organizations, private organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally;

c. Revenue from increased product value due to the application of agricultural extension work as prescribed by the Government;

2. Expenditures for state agricultural extension work include:

a. Expenditures for the regular operation of the agricultural extension system:

According to approved staffing and administrative cost standards for state management bodies (central budget for central-level agricultural extension organizations; local budget for local-level agricultural extension organizations);

b. Expenditures for training and instruction: Training and skill enhancement for agricultural extension staff and farmers include short-term courses such as field study tours, conferences, seminars... costs include:

- Instructor remuneration according to current regulations for teaching hours;

- Costs for organizing classes such as accommodation, conference halls, field sites, lesson plans, teaching aids, materials...

- Subsidies for food expenses for participants at the grassroots level (temporarily set at 15,000 VND per day);

c. Expenditures for information dissemination:

Including:

- Printing of technical literature, publications, newsletters, and flyers;

- Developing agricultural, forestry, and fisheries extension programs on newspapers, radio, and television;

- Creating posters and billboards for promotional and educational purposes.

d. For the construction of technical demonstration points:

Based on the requirements to incorporate new technological advancements into production in ecological regions; based on the level of public education; based on the budget capacity at various levels to determine the number and scale of technical demonstration points, with the principle of utilizing existing technical facilities.

The costs for constructing technical demonstration points include:

+ Operating costs for demonstrating new technological advancements, including materials, tools, transportation expenses, labor costs for operation and training, and other necessary expenses for the demonstration work.

+ In cases where introducing new technological advancements in seedlings and livestock breeds into production requires additional investment compared to using regular seedlings and livestock breeds, the State will support the difference in some key materials such as: seeds, fertilizers, concentrated feed, plant protection chemicals, and veterinary drugs.

3. The operational funds of voluntary agricultural extension organizations established by these organizations shall be self-funded. Financial assistance from economic and social organizations, both domestic and foreign, supporting voluntary agricultural extension organizations shall be applied according to current regulations on receiving aid from the State.

4. The revenue mentioned in Point (c) Section (1) above (if any) shall be submitted to the State budget.

IV. PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHING AND REVIEWING THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PLAN AND FUNDS FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK

1. Along with the time for developing the socio-economic plan; annually:

Agricultural extension organizations must develop an agricultural extension program. For localities, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center must submit the agricultural extension plan to the People's Committee of the province for review (after obtaining opinions from relevant departments of the locality). For central-level agricultural extension organizations under Ministries, they must develop an agricultural extension plan with the participation of the National Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval.

2. Along with the development of the agricultural extension plan:

Agricultural extension organizations must develop a financial plan for agricultural extension work according to the income and expenditure items recorded in Part III of this Circular. Local agricultural extension organizations send their budget plans to the Department of Finance for consolidation and submission to the People's Committee of the province; central-level agricultural extension organizations send their plans to the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance consolidates and records the State budget plan for submission to the Government for approval.

3. After the Government approves the State budget, financial authorities at all levels base on the approved plan and progress to allocate funds to agricultural extension organizations.

Units receiving State budget funds have the responsibility to use them for their intended purposes and manage them strictly according to the current financial system.

4. The settlement of agricultural extension funds is carried out according to the current settlement system for public institutions. Each quarter, the agricultural extension agency must report on the progress of implementation and the use of funds from the previous quarter before the finance sector can allocate funds for the next quarter.

5. Policy for agricultural extension staff:

a. Agricultural extension staff are given attention for technical and vocational training for agricultural extension work.

b. Additional allowances for agricultural extension staff during their service at the grassroots level are as follows:

- Based on the current salary system of the State to implement according to the principle of motivating agricultural extension staff working at the grassroots level.

- Agricultural extension staff may enter into technical contracts with farmers and receive rewards from farmers according to the contracts signed.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are any issues that arise, localities should promptly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government's Organizational-Cadre Department for resolution.

This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance, and all previous regulations and guidelines contrary to this Circular are abolished.