Circular No. 49/2015/TT-BNNPTNT guiding the management of central agricultural extension tasks and projects

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Managing Central Agricultural Extension Tasks and Projects

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Pursuant to Decree No. 199/2013/NĐ-CP dated November 26, 2013 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to Decree No. 02/2010/NĐ-CP dated January 8, 2010 of the Government on Agricultural Extension;

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

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular guiding the management of central agricultural extension tasks and projects.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular guides the construction, examination, approval, adjustment, organization of implementation, inspection, acceptance, settlement of central agricultural extension tasks and projects managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. This Circular applies to organizations and individuals related to the management and implementation of central agricultural extension tasks and projects throughout the country.

3. Based on the contents of this Circular, provinces and centrally-administered cities shall apply it to manage and implement local agricultural extension tasks and projects.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Central Agricultural Extension Task (abbreviated as task) is a specific annual agricultural extension task, including regular agricultural extension tasks comprising five main groups of tasks as specified in points a, b, c, d, đ of this clause and emergency agricultural extension tasks as specified in point e of this clause.

a) Information dissemination, including activities such as compiling, printing, and distributing publications; disseminating information through mass media; organizing agricultural extension events (competitions, exhibitions, forums, seminars);

b) Training and instruction, including activities such as training staff working in agricultural extension (TOT training); farmer training; developing agricultural extension learning materials; conducting surveys and study tours both domestically and internationally;

c) Agricultural extension conferences, specialized seminars;

d) Procurement and repair of equipment for agricultural extension activities;

đ) Developing, disseminating, and guiding the content and methods of agricultural extension activities;

e) Based on production needs and actual conditions each year, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (abbreviated as Minister) decides on certain emergency agricultural extension tasks to serve the development of agriculture and rural areas.

2. Central Agricultural Extension Project (abbreviated as project) is an agricultural extension project with clear objectives, consistent with the program and strategy for agricultural extension and agricultural and rural development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (abbreviated as Ministry). The project is implemented at a scale involving three or more centrally-administered provinces or cities, lasting from one to three years, except in special cases decided by the Minister. The project is based on technological advancements and management improvements; Joint Circular No. 183/2010/TTLT-BTC-BNN dated November 15, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the management and use of state budget funds for agricultural extension activities (abbreviated as Joint Circular No. 183/2010/TTLT-BTC-BNN); economic and technical norms approved by the Minister and current regulations of the State.

3. is the organization implementing support for the application and transfer of technology to the leading organization of projects under the Program. is an organization meeting the conditions stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 9 of this Circular assigned by the Ministry to lead the project.

4. Principal of the Project (abbreviated as principal) is a person belonging to the leading organization who meets the conditions stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 9 of this Circular assigned by the Ministry to be the principal of the project.

5. Demonstration Model (abbreviated as model) is a component of an agricultural extension project aimed at applying scientific and technological advancements and management improvements, with a suitable scale to serve as a model for wider application. Each province or centrally-administered city implements no more than one model per content within the scope of the project, except for some special projects decided by the Minister; each model has no more than five demonstration sites.

6. Demonstration Site is the concrete implementation of the model at a commune, ward, or town produced in a concentrated manner with a scale suitable for each project as decided by the Minister; each demonstration site is repeated a maximum of three times during the implementation period of the project.

Article 3. Management expenses for tasks and projects

1. Content of Expenses

a) For management agencies: the content of management expenses shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions at point a, Clause 10, Article 5 of Circular Joint Circular No. 183/2010/TTLT-BTC-BNN;

b) For organizations responsible for tasks and projects: the content of management expenses includes: drafting explanatory notes; organizing reviews of content and budget estimates; inspections; annual evaluations and acceptance; writing final reports; purchasing office supplies, information, and communication; allowances for project leaders and other expenses.

2. The level of management expenses for tasks and projects shall be governed by the following provisions:

a) Standard rates for management expenses for science and technology tasks at the ministry level shall be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

b) Clauses 1, 3, 4, and 6 of Article 2 of Circular No. 97/2010/TT-BTC dated July 6, 2010, of the Ministry of Finance, which stipulates the regulations on travel expenses and the rules for organizing conferences for state agencies and public service units;

c) Articles 1, 2, and 3 of Circular No. 102/2012/TT-BTC dated June 21, 2012, of the Ministry of Finance, which stipulates the regulations on travel expenses for state officials and civil servants traveling abroad for short-term assignments funded by the state budget;

d) Other current laws and regulations.

Chapter II

CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION TASKS

Article 4. Construction, review, approval, and inspection of implementation of regular agricultural extension tasks

1. Annually, before September 30, the National Agricultural Extension Center shall take the lead and coordinate with the General Department and specialized Bureaus to develop plans for tasks and send them to the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment.

2. The Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall submit to the Minister for the establishment of a Content and Budget Review Team. The team shall consist of representatives from the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment, the Financial Department, the General Department, specialized Bureaus, and invite representatives from the National Agricultural Extension Center to participate.

3. Before December 31 each year, based on the results of the review, the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Financial Department to consider and submit to the Minister for approval and assignment to the National Agricultural Extension Center to organize the implementation of the tasks.

4. The National Agricultural Extension Center shall directly organize the implementation or sign contracts with organizations and individuals to implement the tasks according to the contents approved by the Ministry and current laws.

5. Annually, the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Financial Department, the General Department, and specialized Bureaus to develop inspection plans and organize inspections according to the plan and current regulations. In necessary cases, the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the aforementioned units to conduct surprise inspections.

Article 5. Adjustment of regular agricultural extension tasks

1. The National Agricultural Extension Center shall propose to the Ministry to consider adjustments to the following contents:

a) Products and budgets between task groups specified in points a, b, c, d, đ of Clause 1, Article 2 of this Circular;

b) Products and budgets of tasks: disseminating information through mass media; compiling, printing, and distributing publications; developing agricultural extension learning materials.

2. The procedures and time limits for adjusting the contents of tasks under Clause 1 of this Article are as follows:

a) The adjustment proposal file sent to the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall include: the adjustment request document, detailed adjustment content;

b) The Department of Science, Technology, and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Financial Department to submit to the Minister for decision on adjustment within 10 working days from the date of receipt of complete files.

3. The Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center shall consider adjustments to task contents not covered by Clause 1 of this Article, and send the adjustment decision for reporting to the Ministry (Department of Science, Technology, and Environment, Financial Department) within 5 working days from the date of approval of the adjustment.

Article 6. Inspection, recognition of results, and settlement of regular agricultural extension tasks

1. Inspection and recognition of results of tasks:

a) Before March 31 of the following year, the National Agricultural Extension Center shall submit one set of inspection files to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, including: the decision approving the task and budget estimate, adjustment decisions (if any), final reports on the tasks, physical samples of products according to the approved plan, the inspection record of the National Agricultural Extension Center Director, and the task inspection record (if any);

b) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment Director shall take the lead, coordinating with the Department of Finance to establish the Appraisal Team upon approval by the Minister. The Appraisal Team shall consist of representatives from the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, the Department of Finance, relevant General Departments, and specialized Bureaus. The Appraisal Team shall review the inspection files and be responsible for the appraisal results; they shall report to the Minister for the decision to recognize the inspection results of the task or handle the task that does not meet the criteria for recognition, to be completed before April 30 of the following year;

c) The National Agricultural Extension Center Director, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment Director, and the Department of Finance Director shall be accountable to the Minister for the implementation results of the task.

2. Settlement of tasks

Based on the inspection results and related financial documents, the Department of Finance shall take the lead, coordinating with the Department of Science, Technology and Environment to settle the task in accordance with current regulations.

Article 7. Urgent agricultural extension tasks

1. In cases of necessity, the Minister may assign subordinate units under the Ministry to implement certain urgent agricultural extension tasks.

2. The head of the unit responsible for implementing the task shall prepare a detailed description of the task to be submitted to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment for the Minister's approval and organization of implementation; propose adjustments to the task in accordance with Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular. The inspection, recognition of results, and settlement of the task shall be carried out in accordance with Clause 2, Article 6 of this Circular.

Chapter III

CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROJECTS

Article 8. Construction, Approval, and Announcement of the List of Commissioned Projects

1. Construction and Approval of the List of Commissioned Projects

a) Annually, based on policies and strategies for agricultural and rural development, actual production needs, and proposals from localities, organizations, and individuals; the specialized General Departments shall take the lead, coordinating with the National Agricultural Extension Center to propose a list of commissioned projects by sector using the form B1.DXDMDAKN-BNN issued together with this Circular, to be submitted to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment before April 30;

b) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall take the lead, coordinating with the specialized General Departments, the National Agricultural Extension Center to appraise and propose the list of commissioned projects by sector for reporting to the Minister;

c) After receiving the Minister's comments, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall seek opinions from the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development where the projects are expected to be implemented. The opinion solicitation process must be completed before June 15;

d) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall take the lead, coordinating with the General Departments, specialized Bureaus, and the National Agricultural Extension Center to study and incorporate the opinions of the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to finalize the list of commissioned projects for the Minister's approval before July 30.

2. Announcement of the List of Commissioned Projects

Within five working days from the date of the decision approving the list of commissioned projects, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall announce it on the websites of the Ministry, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, and the National Agricultural Extension Center.

Article 9. Conditions for selecting the leading organization of the project

1. The leading organization of the project must meet the following conditions:

a) Possess functions to operate agricultural extension and transfer appropriate technological progress in accordance with the specialized field of the project;

b) Within two years from the date of submitting the application, not be in any of the following situations: having led a project that was accepted at the level of "unsatisfactory"; delivering products beyond the deadline without approval from the Ministry; using project funds for purposes other than those stipulated;

c) Prioritize organizations that commit to contributing capital to expand the scale of the project.

2. The head of the project must meet the following conditions:

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher; have at least five years of experience in the relevant specialized field of the project up to the date of submitting the application; have experience in organizing and ensuring sufficient time to implement the project;

b) Within two years from the date of submitting the application, not be in any of the following situations: leading a scientific and technological task at the ministerial or state level, or an agricultural extension project that was accepted at the level of "unsatisfactory" or had violations leading to suspension of the task or project;

c) Each individual head shall not lead more than one central agricultural extension project simultaneously; if exceeding one project, it will be decided by the Minister.

Article 10. Application Documents for Directly Assigned Leading Organization of Selected Projects

1. The organization applying to lead the project shall submit the application directly or via postal service to the Ministry (Department of Science, Technology and Environment) within thirty working days from the date of publication of the list of commissioned projects. The application consists of five sets (one original and four copies), packed in sealed envelopes with the outside clearly marked: name of the project; name and address of the organization applying to lead the project; full name of the individual applying to head the project.

2. The application includes the following documents according to the forms issued together with this Circular: application form for leading the implementation of the project (Form B5.DONKN-BNN); overall description of the project (Form B6.TMDAKN-BNN); summary of scientific and technological activities and agricultural extension of the organization (Form B7.LLTC-BNN); scientific curriculum vitae of the individual applying to lead the main project (Form B8.LLCN-BNN); confirmation letter for cooperation in implementing the project (Form B9.PHTH-BNN); document confirming agreement to implement the project at the local level by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally-administered cities (Form B10.XNTKDA-BNN); commitment to contribute matching capital from companies or businesses (if applicable).

3. The date of receipt of the application is the date stamped by the post office or the arrival stamp of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment.

4. Within five working days from the deadline for submission of applications, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment opens, checks, and confirms the validity of the applications. If necessary, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment invites representatives of organizations that have applied for selected projects. The results of opening the applications are recorded in the minutes according to Form B2.BBMHS-BNN issued together with this Circular.

Article 11. Review of Directly Assigned Selected Projects

1. The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall propose to the Minister to establish a Review Team for Directly Assigned Selected Projects. The Review Team consists of: the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, the Financial Department, representatives of the General Administration, specialized agencies, and the National Agricultural Extension Center. For projects involving the participation of the National Agricultural Extension Center in the selection process, the National Agricultural Extension Center shall not participate in the Review Team. Representatives of the leading organization of the project may be invited to attend meetings of the Review Team.

2. Review of Application Documents for Directly Assigned Selected Projects

a) Members of the Review Team assess the application documents as "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" according to Form B3.PTDTMDAKN-BNN issued together with this Circular;

b) The Review Team prepares minutes specifying the requirements for corrections and supplements to the application documents for directly assigned selected projects;

c) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall submit the review results to the Minister for approval;

d) Within fifteen working days from the date of the Minister's approval, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall notify the leading organization and individuals to complete the application documents, descriptions, financial estimates, and resubmit them to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment for content and financial review.

3. Content and Financial Review

The Review Team conducts a review of the content and finances of directly assigned selected projects; prepares review minutes according to regulations.

Article 12. Tendering for Projects

The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Finance to organize tendering for projects selected through tendering methods. The procedures and processes for tendering projects shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on tendering.

Article 13. Approval, Assignment of Tasks, and Contract Execution for Projects

1. Project Approval

a) Based on the results of the review (for selected or directly assigned projects) or the results of the tendering (for projects selected through tendering methods), before October 31 each year, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall submit to the Minister for approval the list of projects to be implemented (including: project name; leading organization; project leader; location; implementation period; objectives; expected outcomes; total budget and annual budget). Within ten days from the date of the decision approving the list, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall be responsible for publishing it on the Ministry's electronic portal;

b) Within thirty days from the date of the decision approving the list of projects to be implemented, the leading organization and the individual project leader shall complete the dossier and submit it to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment;

c) Within forty-five days from the date of the decision approving the list of projects to be implemented, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Finance and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects led by organizations not under the Ministry) to approve the project description and submit to the Minister for approval of each project.

2. Notification of Task Assignment, Budget Allocation, and Contract Execution for Projects

a) Annually, based on the decision approving the project and the plan for allocating agricultural extension funds by the Ministry, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall notify the assignment of tasks, and the Department of Finance shall allocate budgets to the leading organizations under the Ministry and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects led by organizations not under the Ministry);

b) The National Agricultural Extension Center shall sign contracts with leading organizations not under the Ministry; guide and inspect the implementation according to the approved project description.

3. Implementation of Projects

a) The leading organization and project leader shall directly implement the project or enter into contracts with local agricultural extension organizations or other organizations and individuals having sufficient capacity to implement the project in accordance with the content approved by the Ministry and current laws;

b) In cases where the project is affected by force majeure factors (natural disasters, epidemics), the leading organization and project leader shall promptly assess, prepare minutes confirmed by the local authority, and report to the Ministry (Department of Science, Technology and Environment) for consideration and handling in accordance with regulations.

Article 14. Adjustment of Projects

1. Annual Adjustments to Projects

a) The leading organization of the project shall examine and approve annual adjustments to each content without changing the total approved budget, including: time, demonstration location (within the province or city); increase or decrease in training, seminar, information dissemination scale. The leading organization shall send the adjustment document for reporting to the Department of Science, Technology and Environment and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects led by organizations not under the Ministry) within five working days from the date the adjustment document is issued;

b) The deadline for adjusting agricultural extension projects annually shall be completed before November 30.

2. Comprehensive Adjustment of Projects

a) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall examine and submit to the Minister for approval comprehensive adjustments to changes in project objectives, implementation periods, outcomes, leading organizations, project leaders, and total project budgets compared to the project approval decision;

b) The Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall examine and adjust changes in model locations (provinces, cities) and scales between provinces and centrally-administered municipalities without altering the project objectives, outcomes, and total budget compared to the project approval decision;

c) The deadline for comprehensive adjustment shall be before November 30.

Article 15. Project Inspection

1. Inspection by the Ministry

a) The Science, Technology and Environment Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the Finance Department, General Departments, Specialized Bureaus, and the National Agricultural Extension Center to develop inspection plans and conduct inspections according to these plans and current regulations. In cases where necessary, the Science, Technology and Environment Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the aforementioned units to conduct surprise inspections.

b) The inspection team shall consist of representatives from the Science, Technology and Environment Department serving as the Team Leader; members include representatives from the Finance Department, General Departments, Specialized Bureaus, the National Agricultural Extension Center, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at the location where the project is being implemented.

c) Inspections shall be conducted at least once for each project during its implementation period;

d) At least five working days before conducting the inspection, the Science, Technology and Environment Department shall notify the time and place of the inspection to the project's main organizing body, the project leader, and the inspection team members. The project leader shall prepare a progress report and submit it to the Science, Technology and Environment Department via the email address [email protected].

2. The main organizing body of the project shall self-inspect, evaluate the implementation status of the project, and submit the inspection results directly or through postal service to the Science, Technology and Environment Department and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects organized by non-affiliated organizations), within fifteen days from the date of inspection and evaluation.

Article 16. Project Acceptance and Recognition of Results

1. Annual Project Acceptance:

a) The main organizing body shall establish an advisory board for the acceptance of annual project results. The board shall consist of seven members, with no more than two-thirds of the total number of board members coming from the organizing body. The chairman of the board shall be a leader from the organizing body, and board members shall include representatives from management units responsible for professional and financial matters within the organizing body, the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects organized by non-affiliated organizations), and some experts (individuals with appropriate qualifications and expertise in the relevant field). The project leader and individuals involved in implementing the project shall not be members of the board.

b) The board shall convene when at least five out of seven members are present, including the chairman and the secretary member. The board shall assess the project as "pass" or "fail" using the form B4.NXĐGBCTKDAKN-BNN issued together with this Circular. Written opinions of absent members (if any) shall only have reference value. The annual project results shall be proposed for acceptance if at least five out of seven board members rate it as "pass". Based on the acceptance board's conclusion, the project leader shall complete the acceptance documentation and retain it at the organizing body.

c) The annual acceptance documentation shall include: the annual project result report according to form B11.BCKQDAHN-BNN issued together with this Circular; the project description; inspection minutes (if available);

d) Within fifteen working days from the date of the board meeting, the main organizing body and the project leader shall send: the acceptance result report; the annual project result report to the Science, Technology and Environment Department, the Finance Department, and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects organized by non-affiliated organizations).

đ) The head of the main organizing body shall be responsible for the annual project acceptance results of the unit.

2. Final Project Acceptance

a) Acceptance Documentation

Before March 31 of the following year, the main organizing body shall submit the final project acceptance documentation directly or through postal service to the Science, Technology and Environment Department. The documentation shall consist of eight sets (one original and seven copies) including: a letter requesting acceptance; a comprehensive summary report according to form B12.BCTKKQDAKN-BNN issued together with this Circular; an overall description; the decision approving the project; the decision adjusting the project (if applicable) and three sets of legal documentation (photocopies) including: contracts and contract termination agreements with cooperating units; annual acceptance minutes; annual inspection minutes, financial reports, and project products as physical items according to the approved description.

b) The Science, Technology and Environment Department shall propose to the Minister the establishment of an acceptance board. The board shall consist of seven members, including: the chairman, vice-chairman, two opposing members, and the secretary member (representative of the Science, Technology and Environment Department) and other members. The board composition shall include representatives from General Departments, Specialized Bureaus, the Science, Technology and Environment Department, the Finance Department, the National Agricultural Extension Center, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally-administered cities. The project leader and individuals involved in implementing the project shall not be members of the board.

c) The board shall convene when at least five out of seven members are present, including the chairman or vice-chairman, the secretary member, and two opposing members. The board shall assess the final project acceptance documentation as "pass" or "fail" using form B4.NXĐGBCTKKQDA/NVKN-BNN issued together with this Circular. Written opinions of absent members (if any) shall only have reference value. The project shall be proposed for acceptance if at least five out of seven board members rate it as "pass".

d) Within fifteen working days from the date of the board meeting, the main organizing body and the project leader shall incorporate the board's comments to complete the final project acceptance documentation and deliver the product (three sets of printed documents bound in hard covers and CDs) including: the comprehensive summary report, project products according to the approved project description, submitted to the Ministry (Science, Technology and Environment Department).

3. Recognition of Project Results

a) The Science, Technology and Environment Department shall propose to the Minister to decide on recognizing the project implementation results or handling projects that are not recognized. Completion time shall be before June 30.

b) The project implementation results shall be published on the electronic information website of the Science, Technology and Environment Department and the National Agricultural Extension Center.

Article 17. Settlement of Agricultural Extension Projects

1. The Finance Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the Science, Technology and Environment Department, and the National Agricultural Extension Center (for projects led by organizations not directly under the Ministry) to settle annual agricultural extension projects.

2. The settlement dossier includes: project description, report on the implementation results of the project and the annual acceptance record; financial documents as prescribed.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 18. Responsibilities of Departments and Units Directly Under the Ministry

1. Responsibilities of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment

a) The focal point for state management of agricultural extension work; directly managing tasks and projects;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with related units to build and submit to the Minister for approval the agricultural extension plan of the sector; legal normative documents and policies on agricultural extension; economic and technical norms;

c) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant units to review and submit to the Ministry for approval tasks; review and submit to the Ministry for recognition of the results of task implementation;

d) Taking the lead and coordinating with related units to build and submit to the Minister for approval the list of commissioned projects; reviewing selected projects and directly assigned projects; organizing bidding for projects; submitting to the Minister for approval the list of projects and project budgets to be implemented; adjusting, accepting, reviewing and submitting to the Minister for recognition of the results of project implementation;

đ) Notifying in writing to the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally-administered cities the list of projects and leading organizations of projects to be implemented locally;

e) Taking the lead and coordinating with related units to organize inspections; handle complaints and denunciations regarding agricultural extension activities in accordance with the law;

g) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Finance Department and the National Agricultural Extension Center to propose the structure of the annual budget allocation for agricultural extension;

h) Coordinating with the Finance Department to settle tasks and projects annually;

i) Taking the lead and coordinating with related units to conduct mid-term and final reviews of agricultural extension activities; compiling and reporting on the implementation of tasks and projects as prescribed.

Article 5. Responsibilities of the Department of Finance

a) Implementing central agricultural extension budget management as prescribed;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Science, Technology and Environment Department to allocate and settle tasks and projects as prescribed;

c) Participating in building plans, legal normative documents, and policies on agricultural extension;

d) Participating in reviewing economic and technical norms for agricultural extension;

đ) Participating in inspecting, summarizing, and reviewing the results of task and project implementation;

e) Participating in proposing the structure of the annual budget allocation for agricultural extension.

3. Responsibilities of Sectoral General Departments and Bureaus according to their assigned fields:

a) Taking the lead in proposing commissioned projects; participating in building the plan for regular agricultural extension tasks;

b) Coordinating with the Science, Technology and Environment Department and related agencies to manage tasks and projects within their specialized fields;

c) Participating in building plans; legal normative documents and policies on agricultural extension; participating in reviewing economic and technical norms for agricultural extension.

4. Responsibilities of the National Agricultural Extension Center

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with related agencies to build the plan for regular agricultural extension tasks; organizing the implementation, adjustment, and acceptance of approved tasks in accordance with regulations;

b) Coordinating with Sectoral General Departments, Bureaus, the Science, Technology and Environment Department to build the list of commissioned projects; participating in reviewing selected projects and directly assigned projects; inspecting and accepting projects; directly implementing projects assigned by the Ministry to lead; managing projects led by organizations not directly under the Ministry as prescribed;

c) Taking the lead in guiding the content and methods of agricultural extension activities for organizations and individuals participating in agricultural extension activities nationwide;

d) Signing contracts with leading organizations not directly under the Ministry; guiding and inspecting the implementation of projects according to the approved project description;

đ) Participating in proposing the structure of the annual budget allocation for agricultural extension;

e) Participating in building the agricultural extension plan, legal normative documents, policies, and economic and technical norms for agricultural extension;

h) Participating in summarizing agricultural extension work; compiling and reporting to the Ministry the results of tasks and projects assigned to lead and manage.

Article 19. Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally governed cities

1. Participate in proposing and providing comments on the list of orders for central agricultural extension projects.

2. Confirm in writing their agreement to implement the project at the local level; coordinate with the organizing entity and the project leader to develop the project for submission to the Ministry for approval; plan the implementation of the project within the jurisdiction.

3. Participate in inspecting and accepting tasks and projects implemented at the local level.

4. Coordinate with the organizing entity and the project leader to evaluate the results of the model and develop plans to expand it to production within the jurisdiction.

Article 20. Responsibilities of the organizing entity and the project leader

1. The organizing entity of the project

a) Lead and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and centrally governed cities to develop the project for submission to the Ministry for approval; develop the project implementation plan and assess the model's results within the jurisdiction;

b) Direct the organization's implementation; review and adjust; organize inspections, supervision, and acceptance at the site; report on the project according to regulations; manage and use funds in accordance with regulations;

c) Be responsible before the Minister for the results of the project implementation.

2. The project leader

a) Lead the organization's implementation of project contents according to the approved Detailed Description and project adjustment documents from authorized bodies as stipulated; use funds in accordance with legal provisions;

b) Summarize and report on the content, progress, products, and financial situation of the project.

c) Be accountable to the leading organization and the Minister for the results of the project.

Article 21. Implementation clause

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2016.

This Circular replaces Circular No. 15/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated February 26, 2013, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides for the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 02/2010/NĐ-CP dated January 8, 2010, of the Government on agricultural extension.

3. Agricultural extension tasks and projects approved before this Circular takes effect shall be implemented as follows:

a) Tasks and projects ending in 2015: apply the provisions of Circular No. 15/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated February 26, 2013, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides for the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 02/2010/NĐ-CP dated January 8, 2010, of the Government on agricultural extension;

b) Remaining agricultural extension tasks and projects: contents and activities carried out from 2016 shall be applied according to the provisions of this Circular.

4. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, organizations and individuals shall promptly reflect them in writing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Science, Technology and Environment Department) for consideration and resolution./.