Directive No. 34/2005/CT-BNN on Strengthening Flood Prevention Work to Ensure Crop Production in the 2005 Season in Northern Delta, Midland North and North Central Provinces

DIRECTIVE

Regarding Strengthening Flood Prevention Work to Ensure the Autumn Crop Production in 2005 in Northern Delta, Midland, and North Central Provinces

From the beginning of 2005 until now, weather patterns and water sources have shown unusual changes, with early heatwaves, tornadoes accompanied by hailstorms occurring in many places, and no floodwaters. According to forecasts, the meteorological and hydrological conditions for the autumn crop season in 2005 may pose significant challenges to agricultural production in northern delta, midland, and north central provinces.

To minimize losses caused by storms, rain, floods, and flooding, while proactively preventing flooding during the 2005 autumn crop season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairpersons of Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government to direct relevant departments and levels at localities and require related agencies under the Ministry to focus on implementing the following contents:

1. Based on pre-flood inspections of works, continue and urgently repair damages, prioritizing culverts and pumping stations directly discharging into major rivers; test-run drainage works to ensure safety throughout the rainy and flood seasons.

Organize inspections and immediately remove obstacles (water hyacinth, floating debris, waste...), clear flow channels in main drainage canals, especially those leading to pumping stations; develop regular plans to remove obstacles throughout the crop season. Refer to the highest water levels recorded in previous years to reinforce and raise field embankments, paddy field embankments, and drainage canal embankments, particularly in aquaculture areas, high-value cash crop regions, and ornamental plant areas.

2. Based on the actual drainage capacity of irrigation works and local farming practices, reasonably arrange rice planting, firmly convert low-lying areas prone to flooding into aquaculture or switch unstable rice-growing areas to other crops (vegetables, cash crops, ornamental plants...). Localities need to establish mechanisms and policies to encourage and support farmers during the transition process. Prepare backup seeds and seedlings for replanting or patching up areas damaged by flooding.

3. Develop, review, supplement, and update plans for irrigation and drainage, and flood prevention schemes for the 2005 autumn crop season. The scheme should detail specific scenarios and solutions, focusing on key areas; coordination mechanisms for flood prevention among sectors and localities, especially during severe and unusual flooding; measures to ensure the safety of works, mitigate flood damage, and restore production. Flood prevention plans for each locality (district) and irrigation systems must be approved and reported to the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

4. Direct and organize the operation of irrigation works according to approved flood prevention procedures and plans. During the autumn crop season, when irrigation or sediment extraction is needed, only take initial sediment sufficient for pumping stations, not storing it in drainage canals. Take full advantage of water withdrawal, implement the principle of "bury, spread, drain" when draining floodwaters, maximize drainage capacity to discharge water outside the river system, prepare mobile equipment to effectively drain floodwaters in small regions, especially aquaculture areas and high-value crop regions.

5. Allocate financial resources and plan human and material mobilization for flood prevention and mitigation of flood damage.

Publicize information about weather developments, rainfall, flooding, etc., through mass media to enable sectors, levels, and the public to proactively prevent flooding and protect autumn crop production in 2005 effectively.

6. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development guide localities and Waterworks Companies to develop flood prevention plans; coordinate with relevant sectors and levels to approve and direct the implementation of these plans. Organize duty shifts, meetings, information dissemination, monitoring the operation of irrigation works for flood prevention, and report according to regulations to the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

7. The Department of Water Resources collaborates with the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Center, Vietnam Electricity Corporation, and related agencies, as well as Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, to monitor weather developments, water sources, flooding, and direct, guide, and inspect the operation of irrigation and drainage systems for flood prevention in localities.

The Department of Agriculture, in accordance with its assigned functions, coordinates with related agencies to guide localities on crop schedules, seeds, and agricultural measures./.

The Department of Agriculture, within its assigned functions, shall coordinate with relevant agencies to guide localities on crop calendars, seeds, and agricultural measures./.