Circular No. 19/2013/TT-BNNPTNT guiding measures for energy conservation and efficiency in agricultural production

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for energy-saving and efficient measures in agricultural production

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2008/NĐ-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Decree No. 75/2009/NĐ-CP dated September 10, 2009 of the Government amending Article 3 of Decree No. 01/2008/NĐ-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Law on Energy Saving and Efficiency, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2011/NĐ-CP dated March 29, 2011 of the Government detailing and providing implementation measures for the Law on Energy Saving and Efficiency;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment,

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular guiding energy-saving and efficient measures in agricultural production.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides energy-saving and efficient measures in agricultural production.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations, households, and individuals involved in activities related to agricultural, forestry, water management, aquaculture, and salt production.

Chapter II

ENERGY-SAVING AND EFFICIENT MEASURES FOR EACH SECTOR

Article 3. Energy-saving and efficient measures in crop cultivation and plant protection

1. Reasonable planning; intensify research on breeding and developing high-yield, quality biofuel crops.

2. Prioritize research, breeding, and dissemination of new crop varieties resistant to drought, flooding, salinity, and diseases.

3. Flexibly adjust cropping patterns according to regions; adapt crop structures to different types of farmland.

4. Rational use of fertilizers and pesticides; prioritize integrated pest management methods in the field.

5. Collect and reuse agricultural by-products (straw, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, etc.) as raw materials for other industries such as mushroom cultivation, fertilizer production, animal feed, fuel, and biomass for daily needs, processing, and preservation of agricultural products.

Article 4. Energy-saving and efficient measures in livestock farming and veterinary services

1. Reasonable planning of livestock facilities; fully utilize natural light and ventilation when designing and constructing facilities; minimize the use of incandescent lamps for lighting and heating in livestock farms.

2. Develop biogas facilities at households and livestock farms to treat livestock waste and generate biological energy.

3. Establish closed-loop livestock models based on advanced standards, clean technology, water conservation, reduced feed wastage; provide appropriate feed for each type of livestock and growth stage; minimize excess nutrition in feeding.

4. Apply rational livestock management techniques ensuring hygiene and strict disease prevention measures to reduce mortality rates and energy consumption during disposal of sick or dead animals.

5. Prioritize research, breeding, and dissemination of new livestock breeds with high productivity and low feed consumption per unit product.

Article 5. Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Water Resources Sector

1. Planning Work

Organize rational planning for water resources systems; prioritize gravity irrigation solutions; prioritize construction of enclosed water conveyance channels to replace open trapezoidal canals to reduce water loss and land occupation; gradually replace traditional irrigation methods (surface flooding) with other water-saving methods (sprinkler irrigation, mist irrigation, drip irrigation, mulching, root mulching, etc.);

2. Efficient and Economical Water Use

a) Inspect and assess weather conditions, current water sources (rainfall, reservoirs, rivers, streams, salinity intrusion, etc.) to develop plans for balanced water usage according to the water source's capacity.

b) Apply scientific water-saving irrigation measures, implement the policy of consolidating farmland plots and leveling fields.

c) Organize dredging of water intake and supply channel beds; clean up weeds and debris, clear water flow, remove obstructions on water conveyance canal systems, water intake structures, pump station suction basins; develop reasonable drainage plans to prevent flooding.

3. Rational Operation of Water Resources Systems According to Different Types of Structures

a) For gravity systems (reservoirs, dams, sluices, etc.): develop plans and proactively coordinate with related units to manage reservoirs and water supply systems to meet production needs at appropriate times; strictly enforce sequential water distribution along canals; inspect and repair field and plot embankments to prevent water leakage through canal banks, gate valves, and sluice gates.

b) For the Mekong Delta region: gradually complete embankment, field, and plot structures, sluices, and dams to ensure proactive water intake and discharge operations to effectively utilize comprehensive benefits during flood periods.

c) Pump stations: establish pumping schedules to ensure synchronized operation across the entire system between small and large pump stations; continuously monitor water levels and take advantage of off-peak hours to maximize grid electricity use and save energy.

Develop plans to gradually replace outdated and low-efficiency pumps and electric motors with new high-efficiency models.

d) For tidal areas: conduct measurements and monitoring of salinity intrusion at sluice gates and pump station suction basins to operate pumping systems at maximum capacity when conditions permit.

Article 6. Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Forestry Sector

1. Forest Development

a) Promote regeneration, restoration, and enrichment of forests in planned areas.

b) Prioritize research, selection, and dissemination of high-yield tree species resistant to pests, diseases, and drought.

c) Flexibly adjust planting seasons according to different regions.

d) Increase greenery in residential and urban areas to improve living environments, regulate air quality, enhance CO2 absorption, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Forest Management

a) Implement understory clearing using live cutting methods; chop branches and create compost piles on-site to enrich forest soil naturally. Limit understory clearing by burning.

b) Implement certification of forests according to sustainable forest management standards.

3. Forest Utilization

a) Plan transportation infrastructure for timber harvesting rationally.

b) Select suitable and energy-efficient logging and processing technologies to increase wood utilization rates in harvesting and processing.

c) Implement technology for treating and reusing by-products (understory vegetation, sawdust, residues, etc.) to reduce waste disposal costs and input costs for production and processing.

d) Develop and apply clean production technology, invest in solar-powered equipment for forestry and specialty product processing.

e) Fully utilize natural light and ventilation when designing and constructing timber processing plants and facilities.

Article 7. Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Aquaculture

1. Prioritize research, selection, creation, and dissemination of high-quality, high-yield aquatic species; improve breeding techniques to increase feed conversion rates.

2. Limit excess feed usage in breeding systems; control diseases; ensure hygiene and food safety conditions.

3. Develop and expand water-saving aquaculture models; broaden integrated and combined breeding models (crop rotation, polyculture - utilizing trophic levels, integrated breeding - combined VAC farms).

4. Apply new technologies in pond management towards environmental friendliness (utilizing aquatic plants for environmental treatment, using circulating filtration technology to minimize water replacement).

5. Fully utilize renewable energy (wind, solar) in breeding systems.

Article 8. Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Fisheries Exploitation, Protection, and Development

1. Organize fishery area forecasting and promptly inform fishermen.

2. Establish production and fishing models combined with marine fisheries support services to enhance exploitation efficiency and protect fishery areas.

3. Plan to gradually phase out outdated fishing equipment with low energy efficiency that does not meet minimum emission standards, replacing them with advanced, high-efficiency equipment, processing and preservation devices.

Article 9. Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Salt Production

1. Plan salt production development focusing on regions with favorable natural conditions for high yield and quality, large output.

2. Plan land use and arrange salt production fields rationally, fully utilizing terrain to apply self-flowing water supply and saltwater transfer methods. Increase wind power utilization instead of mechanical pumps during salt production.

3. Gradually shift from traditional salt production to large-scale clean salt production linked with processing and markets.

Article 10. Measures for Efficient and Economical Energy Use in Agricultural, Forestry, Aquatic Product Processing, and Salt Production

1. Reasonably plan raw material regions, prioritizing cleaner production technology application to reduce costs in production and processing.

2. Fully utilize natural light and ventilation when designing and constructing production facilities and processing centers.

3. Develop production processes and organize work stages suitable for each type of machinery. Equipment must be synchronized, highly efficient, energy-saving, and reduce emissions.

4. Prioritize modern technology, equipment, and machines meeting standards and energy-saving labels. Gradually eliminate outdated, low-energy efficiency technology, equipment, and machines according to regulations and timelines set by competent state authorities.

5. Gradually update technology and equipment. Encourage the use of clean energy and renewable energy technology, equipment, and machines in production, processing, preservation, and transportation of products.

Article 11. Measures for energy conservation and efficiency in craft villages

1. Developing and applying equipment and machinery using biofuels, renewable energy (solar, wind, biogas, biomass) in households and production facilities, processing facilities in rural areas.

2. Selecting new materials, new techniques, new equipment, and new technologies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and decrease emissions in production facilities of craft villages, processing facilities.

3. Implementing technologies for processing and reusing household waste in rural areas, waste from production facilities of craft villages; wood processing, seafood processing, coffee processing facilities, rice milling facilities, sugar factories.

4. Developing and applying cleaner production technology to reduce input costs.

Chapter III

RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

Article 12. Responsibilities and Implementation Organization

1. The Processing, Marketing Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Salt Industry

a) Is responsible for implementing the State management tasks of the Ministry regarding measures for energy conservation and efficiency in agricultural production.

b) Organizing the implementation, inspection, and supervision of the application of energy conservation and efficiency measures.

c) Taking the lead in building and submitting plans for the implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures to the Ministry for approval.

2. Departments, Bureaus, General Departments, Centers under the Ministry, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

Article 13. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from May 1, 2013.

2. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration and appropriate amendments./.