Decision No. 1459/QD-TTg on support policies for preventing and controlling brown planthopper outbreaks and rice yellow dwarf and rice stripe diseases in southern provinces (from Da Nang southward).

Pursuant to …;

Regarding support policies for preventing and controlling brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice in southern provinces (from Da Nang southward)

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

DECISION:

Article 1. The state budget shall provide funding for preventing and controlling brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice during the period when epidemics are declared by competent authorities, specifically as follows:

1. The central government budget shall cover the following expenses:

a) One hundred percent of the cost of purchasing plant protection chemicals to prevent and control brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice;

b) A subsidy of two million Vietnamese dong per hectare for households growing winter-spring rice in 2006-2007 that must destroy their crops due to infection with yellow dwarf disease and leaf curl virus disease, according to regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, effective from October 1, 2006.

2. Local budgets shall ensure funding for the following items:

a) Organizing and directing implementation, propaganda, training for those assigned to participate in prevention and control activities, monitoring the destruction of infected rice areas, and allowances for those directly involved in disease control;

b) Providing twelve kilograms of rice per person per month to assist households affected by brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice; the maximum duration of assistance is six months. Based on local conditions, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city shall decide on the specific beneficiaries and duration of assistance. In cases where local budgets face difficulties, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city shall report to the Minister of Finance for consolidation and submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision regarding the release of rice from the National Reserve to support localities in providing famine relief to affected households.

3. Ho Chi Minh City shall use its local budget to ensure the expenditures specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 2. Regarding loans for farmers

1. Waiving interest on loans for a period of six (06) months for outstanding balances as of November 1, 2006, for loans taken out from March 1, 2006, by farmers from state-owned commercial banks to grow rice but whose rice areas were destroyed due to yellow dwarf disease and leaf curl virus disease.

2. Farmers who have had their loans waived under Clause 1 of this Article may continue to borrow funds to resume production if they need to, in accordance with the law.

Article 3. Mechanism for purchasing plant protection chemicals and releasing national reserves:

1. Based on the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the quantity and types of plant protection chemicals to be supported, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city shall decide on the purchase of plant protection chemicals in accordance with the law on bidding, to promptly serve the work of preventing and controlling outbreaks and achieve results.

2. During the epidemic period, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is authorized to decide on the release of plant protection chemicals from the National Reserve Fund for each locality; at the same time, he/she shall bear responsibility for his/her decisions and report to the Prime Minister on the implementation results.

Article 4. Implementation

1. The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for:

a) Guidelines for expenditure on training and allowances for those participating in the prevention and control of brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice, and expenditure on supervision of the destruction of infected rice areas;

b) Releasing plant protection chemicals from the National Reserve Fund according to the Decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development based on the extent of damage in each locality and the provisions of this Decision, using the central government budget reserve for 2006 to support localities and compiling the results for reporting to the Prime Minister;

d) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the Prime Minister for decision on the release of rice from the National Reserve Fund for localities to provide famine relief to households affected by brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for:

a) Specifying detailed procedures for declaring epidemics and measures for preventing and controlling brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice, including measures related to planting seasons and variety structure;

b) Deciding on the quantity and types of plant protection chemicals to be supported for each locality based on the severity of the epidemic and disease;

c) Directing and inspecting the work of preventing and controlling outbreaks and destroying infected rice areas due to yellow dwarf disease and leaf curl virus disease in localities.

3. The State Bank of Vietnam shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide the implementation of Article 2 of this Decision.

4. The Chairmen of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for:

a) Directing the organization of forces and means to prevent and control diseases in their respective areas in accordance with the guidance of specialized agencies;

b) Actively utilizing local budgets in combination with central government support and other legitimate sources to implement the policies stipulated in this Decision, ensuring that funds are used for their intended purposes, for the correct beneficiaries, and effectively;

c) Deciding specifically on the duration of famine relief for households affected by brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice, in line with local conditions;

d) Coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to inspect the sale of plant protection chemicals, promptly detecting and preventing, and handling according to the law any illegal acts such as selling counterfeit, substandard plant protection chemicals, hoarding to inflate prices, and false advertising;

đ) Reporting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance upon completion of the epidemic on the results of the work of preventing and controlling brown planthopper outbreaks, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease on rice for compilation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 5. This Decision shall take effect from the date of signing.

Article 6. THE MINISTERS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL MINISTRIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL AGENCIES, AND CHAIRMEN OF PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THIS DECISION./.