Two-tier government: Livestock farmers benefit as commune chairman gets more power

Proactively control epidemics right from the grassroots

In the increasingly complex weather and climate conditions, the risk of disease outbreaks in livestock, poultry and aquatic products is always latent, improving disease prevention and control capacity right at the commune level is an urgent requirement. According to the new guidelines, the People's Committee at the commune level is assigned the responsibility of arranging specialized human resources, organizing funding, and implementing measures to prevent and control animal diseases according to the provisions of the 2015 Veterinary Law.

Local authorities are allowed to handle outbreaks, direct sampling, diagnosis, damage statistics, instruct people to quarantine and destroy sick animals; at the same time, organize propaganda, vaccinate, disinfect and sterilize barns. These actions, if implemented well, will help detect and control the epidemic early in the area, preventing it from spreading widely.

A notable new point is that the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee is empowered to declare an epidemic and declare the end of the epidemic in the commune when all conditions are met according to regulations. This not only shortens the processing time but also clearly demonstrates the role and responsibility of the grassroots leaders in managing epidemic prevention and control.

In case the epidemic exceeds the capacity, the commune level can submit a report to the Provincial People's Committee for support in terms of funding, materials, and human resources. This is a flexible combination of decentralization and inter-sectoral coordination, aiming to ensure maximum effectiveness in responding to the epidemic.

Along with veterinary work, the livestock sector is also strongly assigned to the commune level for management. According to the 2018 Livestock Law and its implementing guidelines, the commune government is responsible for organizing statistics and managing the number of households and livestock facilities; assessing damage caused by natural disasters and epidemics; disseminating and popularizing the law; and periodically reporting to the centralized livestock management software. Scientific statistics and management not only help the relevant agencies grasp the production situation but also serve as a basis for developing practical support policies, limiting spontaneous, fragmented livestock farming and not ensuring environmental hygiene.

In particular, the commune level has the right to inspect the operating conditions of small and medium-sized farms, based on criteria such as livestock density, water sources, barns, environmental protection and traceability records. The goal is to move towards a biosafety livestock model, minimizing pollution, and in line with local socio-economic development planning.

In addition, the commune level is also assigned the responsibility of supporting land allocation for livestock households that need to relocate out of residential areas, building concentrated livestock farming areas, and ensuring environmental safety distances according to the latest regulations.

With the newly assigned role, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee can also decide on many practical policies for livestock breeders. These include support for artificial insemination materials for livestock (semen, tools, liquid nitrogen), support for training costs for people providing insemination services, and career conversion.

In particular, the support expenditures from the State budget are clearly regulated in terms of procedures and responsibilities at each level. This contributes to policy transparency, ensuring that resources reach the right subjects and targets.

Regarding the slaughter, preliminary processing and processing of animal products - one of the important links related to food hygiene and safety, the commune level is responsible for advising on planning and supervising the operations of small and concentrated slaughterhouses. This is an important step in contributing to controlling the epidemic from "root to tip", from barn to table.

Requirements from practice

Although decentralization to the commune level is considered appropriate and necessary, in reality it poses many high requirements. To overcome this, the Nghe An provincial Department of Agriculture clearly identified the need to promote training and improve the capacity of grassroots cadres, especially in terms of specialized knowledge in veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, and the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen inspection, guidance, and support for communes during the implementation process, especially in mountainous and remote areas with difficulties.

The application of information technology and data digitization also needs attention to manage livestock in a modern direction, promptly serving the direction and operation from the province to the grassroots.

The issuance of Document No. 301/CNTY-HCTH dated June 20, 2025 on the implementation of a number of tasks in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine when implementing the 2-level local government model, with clear guidance from the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, is not only to properly implement legal regulations, but also to demonstrate a proactive spirit and adaptability to the new administrative apparatus. This is the first step to building a strict, effective and practical animal husbandry and veterinary management system.

In the coming time, when localities implement synchronously according to the instructions, it can be expected that the 2-level local government model will promote real effectiveness: closer to the people, closer to work and more timely, in line with the goal of building a service-oriented administration, focusing on people and sustainable development.