Directive No. 30/2006/CT-TTg on urgent measures to prevent and control brown planthopper, yellow dwarf disease, and leaf curl virus disease in rice

 DIRECTIVE

On urgent measures to prevent and control brown planthopper and yellow dwarf, orange leaf curling diseases on rice

At present, in the Summer-Autumn and Autumn-Winter seasons of 2006 in the Mekong Delta provinces, the yellow dwarf and orange leaf curling diseases on rice caused by viruses and transmitted by brown planthoppers are spreading very quickly. There are tens of thousands of hectares of infected rice, with many areas severely affected requiring destruction. According to forecasts from plant protection agencies, the disease will continue to spread strongly during the Autumn-Winter season of 2006 due to farmers continuing to sow seeds. This is a disease without preventive treatment; if not promptly prevented and extinguished, it will cause significant losses to rice production, farmers' income, and spread to the next crop. To promptly prevent the spread of the disease, protect rice production in the Mekong Delta, a key rice-producing region of the country, and ensure food security, the Prime Minister issues the following directive: 

1. Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the Mekong Delta Region shall direct the implementation of the following urgent measures:

a) For localities already affected by the disease, they must declare the epidemic and establish a Steering Committee for preventing and controlling brown planthoppers, yellow dwarf, and orange leaf curling diseases in accordance with laws on plant protection. Assign responsible leaders to directly lead, direct, and mobilize forces to participate in preventing and controlling the epidemic, aiming to quickly extinguish the epidemic and prevent its widespread spread;

b) Direct specialized plant protection agencies to monitor and supervise the epidemic down to the grassroots level, promptly informing farmers about the epidemic so that they can take preventive and control measures proactively and report to competent authorities to timely direct preventive and control measures against the epidemic;

c) Strictly inspect the business and use of plant protection chemicals, taking prompt measures according to laws on plant protection and related laws against cases of selling fake chemicals, chemicals outside the list, or price gouging;

d) Direct and guide farmers to organize spraying of chemicals to prevent and control the epidemic and implement the destruction of areas of rice infected with yellow dwarf and orange leaf curling diseases in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Advise farmers to stop sowing rice in the Autumn-Winter season of 2006 to ensure safety for the Winter-Spring season of 2006-2007;

đ) Proactively use the contingency budget of the locality in 2006 to fund the prevention and control of the epidemic and provide support to farmers whose rice areas have been destroyed in accordance with the policy of support issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

e) Guide farmers to adjust planting seasons and use suitable high-yield, quality rice varieties resistant to brown planthoppers and other pests. In the short term, for the Winter-Spring season of 2006-2007, rearrange sowing times to ensure sufficient isolation time from previously sown crops to prevent conditions for brown planthoppers to grow and spread the disease. Apply appropriate cultivation methods and effectively use plant protection chemicals.

a) Coordinate with the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the Mekong Delta Region to direct the agricultural sector and plant protection agencies at all levels to effectively implement preventive and control measures, especially in localities heavily affected by the epidemic;

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

b) Direct specialized plant protection agencies at all levels to organize well the work of forecasting and predicting the situation of brown planthoppers and the development of yellow dwarf and orange leaf curling diseases on rice and other pests, promptly informing all levels and farmers to proactively prevent, control, and extinguish the epidemic;

c) Direct and inspect the prevention and control work of localities. Guide and support localities in adjusting rice varieties and planting seasons, applying improved cultivation methods and advanced technologies to limit the development of epidemics. Select, breed, and rapidly multiply resistant rice varieties to meet production needs;

d) Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to guide mechanisms and policies to support areas of rice infected with yellow dwarf and orange leaf curling diseases.

3. Information agencies shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the Mekong Delta Region to promptly and accurately inform the public about the harmfulness of this epidemic, forecasts, and developments to enable proactive actions to extinguish the epidemic and implement preventive measures.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the Mekong Delta Region are responsible for implementing this Directive./.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the Mekong Delta region shall be responsible for implementing this Directive./.