Joint Circular No. 1/LB-HLV on cooperation and support for activities between the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Education, and the Vietnam Gardening Association.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regarding cooperation and support for activities between the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Education, and the Vietnam Gardening Association

The Vietnam Gardening Association is a mass organization with the mission to mobilize members and gardeners generally to develop gardening and garden-based economies (including the VAC ecosystem) in accordance with the guidelines, policies, and directives of the Party and State. The Association's activities contribute significantly to the development of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries, as well as vocational education and student training. The Association operates under the patronage of the Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Education.

The Ministries and the Central Association hereby stipulate general principles and main contents regarding cooperation and support for activities between the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Education, and the Vietnam Gardening Association.

I. ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS

The Association's activities are closely related to the operations and development of the sectors, therefore, at both central and local levels, the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Education should appoint staff to participate in the Association's executive committees at various levels and specialized departments (scientific and technical, propaganda, movement guidance, etc.), actively contributing to building a strong Association.

Depending on the Association's operational requirements and staffing capacity, the Ministries may assign some staff to work exclusively for the Association under a secondment system. These staff members are directly managed by the Association but enjoy all benefits concerning salary, allowances, promotion, and rewards as other staff within their respective Ministries; decisions on salary increments, promotions, rewards, and disciplinary actions are based on the Association's observations and recommendations.

To create initial favorable conditions for the Association's operations, the Ministries will provide financial support and necessary working equipment (office supplies, transportation means, etc.) according to their capabilities.

At the local level, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, and district and county People's Committees directly guide the establishment and operation of the Association.

II. ASPECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES

a) Propaganda and education on the Party and State's guidelines, policies for developing garden-based economies and family economies:

The Ministries will closely cooperate with the Association in propagating and educating to implement the Party and State's guidelines, policies for developing garden-based economies and family economies.

The Ministries will inform the Association about issues related to the guidelines, policies concerning gardening, garden-based economies, and family economies, and invite Association leaders from the central and provincial levels to attend relevant meetings (conferences to disseminate policies, annual and five-year plan conferences, specialized conferences related to gardening and garden-based economies).

The Association will reflect the aspirations of its members and gardeners regarding the development of gardening and garden-based economies to the Ministries, participate in discussions, and make necessary proposals on policies and guidelines for these sectors.

b) Movement Guidance:

The Association will cooperate with the Ministries in launching and guiding movements to develop garden-based economies such as the construction of President Ho Chi Minh's orchards and fish ponds, forest and hillside gardens, people's tree planting, school gardens, etc. The Ministries will set goals, contents, standards, and measures. The Association will collaborate with the Ministries' agencies to mobilize the masses to implement these movements and propose solutions to promote them. Depending on the needs of movement guidance, the Ministries may allocate funds and technical materials necessary for mobilization and promotion to the Association.

The Association will cooperate with the Ministries and related sectors to organize exhibitions showcasing labor achievements and advanced techniques in gardening, introducing and organizing the sale of garden-based economy products.

The Ministries and the Association will cooperate in organizing mid-term and final reviews of movements and rewarding achievements in developing gardening and garden-based economies.

c) Introducing advanced technology into gardening and organizing technical services:

The Association will disseminate and encourage the implementation of advanced technologies verified and decided upon by the Ministries for adoption in production. During the monitoring of movements, the Association will report observations on the effects and economic benefits of disseminated technologies, while proposing new technologies discovered through grassroots research.

The Association will cooperate with the Ministries' research and guidance agencies to conduct surveys and collect plant and animal varieties, specialties in gardening, regionalize new seedlings (produced by state agencies or gardeners through breeding or importation), and organize summaries of farmers' experiences in production organization and management, gardening techniques, product processing, and marketing.

The Ministries' research and technical guidance agencies will transfer plants, seeds, and technologies with conclusive results to the Association for propagation and dissemination in production.

To facilitate the introduction of advanced technology into gardening, the Association will cooperate with the Ministries' related agencies to organize necessary technical services such as supplying plants and seeds, labor tools, and other technical materials (fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary medicines, livestock feed, growth stimulants, etc.), providing technical guidance and design, and organizing product processing and marketing for garden-based economies.

The Association will disseminate gardening tools researched and produced by the Ministries' agencies (including manual and mechanical tools) or organize the production of certain types of tools based on models and guidance from related agencies within the Ministries.

In addition to fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary medicines, construction materials, etc., provided by the Ministries for movement leadership according to approved plans (President Ho Chi Minh's orchard and fish pond movements, people's tree planting movements, etc.), the Association may, based on joint ventures and collaborations with related sectors, organize production, import, and supply certain technical materials needed for gardening, primarily for members.

The Association shall design and provide technical guidance on gardening for facilities (cooperatives, production groups, factories, schools, military units, etc.) that fall outside the scope of programs of ministries' agencies or where such agencies lack the conditions to implement them (such as guiding and designing family gardens and ponds). Relevant agencies of the ministries shall be responsible for guiding and assisting the Association in this work; providing technical materials, sample designs, and training staff.

d) Organize technical training and train personnel in gardening skills:

The Association shall cooperate with the ministries to organize seminars and technical training courses to improve the skills of gardeners, and propose training requirements for technical personnel in gardening to the ministries.

The ministries shall assign lecturers and trainers and create favorable conditions for the Association to organize training sessions.

The above are general provisions regarding support and coordination of activities between the ministries and the Association of gardeners.

Agencies under the ministries at central and local levels (bureaus, departments, institutes, companies, production complexes, provincial departments, committees, etc.) shall discuss with corresponding levels of the Association based on their functions and responsibilities to apply and implement these provisions. Any observations or experiences during implementation shall be promptly reported to the ministry and the Central Association.

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall directly lead the coordination of activities between relevant sectors and provincial/city Associations.