Strengthening measures to prevent and control the fifth generation of small leaf rollers that damage rice

(Telegram No. 20/CD-UBND dated August 8, 2014of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee)

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the fourth generation of leaf rollers has caused serious damage and become an epidemic on a large scale in the summer-autumn rice crop of 2014. The total area infected with the worms is over 71,000 hectares, of which over 44,500 hectares are severely infected. However, under the urgent and drastic direction of the Provincial People's Committee, specialized agencies and localities, and the compliance of the majority of farmers, over 96% of the rice area infected with the fourth generation of leaf rollers has been effectively sprayed, without affecting productivity. However, there are still some localities that are not resolute and slow in implementing, some farming households do not properly comply with the direction of the government and specialized agencies, leading to nearly 2,800 hectares of rice being eaten by worms, burning over 70% of the leaves, some areas have old panicles so the risk of reducing productivity is quite high.

Currently, summer-autumn rice is in the stage of holding panicles - milk ripening, winter-spring rice is in the final stage of tillering to panicle formation.In the fields, the fourth generation of adult leaf rollers has emerged and eggs of the fifth generation have appeared. The risk of damage caused by the fifth generation of leaf rollers on a large scale is very high, especially on the summer-autumn rice fields in mountainous districts. If not prevented promptly and effectively, the possibility of widespread crop failure in the 2014 summer-autumn rice crop may occur.

To minimize the damage caused by the fifth generation of small leaf rollers to the 2014 summer-autumn rice crop, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; directors of departments, heads of relevant units to properly implement the following contents:

1. Chairman of People's Committee of districts, cities and towns:

- Assign leaders of the District People's Committee to organize inspection, urge and direct the work of preventing and controlling the fifth generation of small leaf rollers in localities.

- Strengthen and maintain the steering groups for the prevention and control of the 4th generation of small leaf rollers that have been established or establish new working groups to go to areas at risk of serious damage caused by the 5th generation of small leaf rollers to inspect, direct and guide farmers to strictly implement the prevention and control measures. At the same time, monitor and evaluate the results of the organization and direction of prevention and control of each individual and locality to report to the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee as a basis for year-end evaluation and emulation classification.

- Direct the People's Committees of communes, wards and towns in areas with high risk of pests to mobilize the entire political system and immediately stop unnecessary meetings from August 11 to 18, 2014 to focus on directing the prevention and control of the fifth generation of small leaf rollers; at the same time, strengthen propaganda work on local mass media; especially the commune and village radio system about the risks of pests and prevention and control measures as recommended by the Plant Protection Agency so that farmers know and organize effective prevention and control (at least broadcast 4 times/day).

- Strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations in the trading of plant protection drugs to avoid the use of poor quality drugs.

- Proactively balance the local budget to support farmers in areas where pests arise, develop and cause great damage to buy pesticides when the pests are at age 1 and age 2; in case the local budget is difficult and cannot be balanced, submit it to the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration, and submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for timely support, ensuring good implementation of epidemic prevention work (the Provincial People's Committee has directed in Official Dispatch No. 5629/UBND-NN dated August 7, 2014).

2. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

- Assign leaders of the department and related departments to organize inspections and direct the work of preventing and controlling the fifth generation of small leaf rollers in localities; especially localities with high risk of pests to coordinate with the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to grasp the situation of pests and have timely measures to direct prevention and control.

- Continue to strengthen and maintain the steering groups for the prevention of the 4th generation of small leaf rollers established by the Department to coordinate with localities to organize guidance and direction for farmers to prevent the 5th generation of small leaf rollers; in which, it is necessary to pay attention to strengthening the force for localities at risk of being affected by large pests.

- Directing the Plant Protection Department:

+ Assign staff at the Sub-Department Office and affiliated Stations to closely follow the base to investigate, detect, estimate, and accurately forecast areas that need prevention and timely notify localities and farmers to organize effective prevention and control, avoiding subjective situations of not spraying or spraying pesticides in areas that do not need to be sprayed, affecting the environment and causing costs for people.

+ Strengthen inspection and control of the trading of plant protection drugs to detect and strictly handle cases of trading of drugs not listed, fake drugs, and poor quality drugs.

+ Closely coordinate with mass media agencies to strengthen information work on the emergence, development and damage of small leaf rollers and to propagate, recommend and guide farmers on timely and effective prevention measures.

- Coordinate with the Department of Finance to advise the Provincial People's Committee to support funding for purchasing pesticides to prevent and control the fifth generation of small leaf rollers for localities to promptly control when necessary; especially for mountainous districts.

3. Department of Finance: Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to promptly advise the Provincial People's Committee to support funding for the prevention and control of the fifth generation of small leaf rollers for localities when necessary, in order to control the emergence and development of the worms; especially in mountainous districts.

4. Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper: Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Plant Protection Sub-Department) to increase the time to recommend and propagate farmers to properly implement pest control measures proposed by specialized agencies, report on localities, units and individuals that do well and those that do not.

5. Nghe An Plant Protection Service Joint Stock Company: Proactively contact domestic and foreign pesticide suppliers to prepare sufficient quantities of necessary quality pesticides, provide timely and effective pest control to farmers, and be ready to supply to localities upon request of the Provincial People's Committee.