The Provincial People's Committee approved a number of policies in the agricultural sector.

Specific regulations on building, converting, renting and purchasing fishing vessels

The draft criteria for building, converting, renting, and purchasing fishing vessels operating in Nghe An waters includes 9 articles with specific regulations.

Criteria for building new fishing vessels include a Business Registration Certificate issued by a competent authority of Nghe An province for organizations; permanent residence registration in Nghe An province for individuals. Registering fishing occupations in accordance with regulations. For building new fishing vessels with a maximum length of 12 meters or more, there must be a technical design dossier for building new fishing vessels appraised and approved by a competent authority before applying for a written approval for building new fishing vessels. The hull material is steel, new material or wooden hull. New construction is not approved for fishing vessels for trawling, gillnetting, and tuna.

For the criteria of vessel conversion, the fishing vessel must be registered in Nghe An province. For fishing vessels with a maximum length of 12 meters or more, before applying for a document approving the conversion, the fishing vessel must have a technical design file for conversion that has been appraised and approved by a competent authority. Conversion of other occupations to trawling, gillnetting, and tuna is not accepted.

For fishing vessels engaged in trawling: Conversion to change hull size, change total main engine capacity, change operating area is not accepted. In case of conversion of fishing vessels engaged in trawling to other occupations, it must be consistent with the published fishing license quota. Conversion of fishing vessels with a maximum length of 12m or more to less than 12m is not accepted.

Criteria for renting or buying fishing vessels: must have a Business Registration Certificate issued by the competent authority of Nghe An province for organizations; must have permanent residence registration in Nghe An province for individuals. Register for fishing profession in accordance with the regulations in the Circulars of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The hull material is steel, new material or wooden hull...

At the meeting, delegates agreed on the contents of the draft. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De directed the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Control and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to complete the draft and submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for signing and promulgation in time for departments, localities and fishermen to implement.

Early support for epidemic damage costs

In recent years, African swine fever and lumpy skin disease have occurred in Nghe An, causing great losses to farmers.

Regarding African swine fever, which first occurred in Nghe An province in March 2019, this is a very dangerous infectious disease that causes disease in pigs. In 2 years (2019, 2020), there were 569 outbreaks, the number of pigs destroyed was 102,061, accounting for 10.5% of the total pig herd in the province, with a total weight of 5,173 tons. During this period, the Department of Finance advised the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds and support 100% of the costs for farmers whose pigs were infected with ASF and had to be destroyed, with a total amount of over 151 billion VND (2019: 137 billion VND, 2020: 14 billion VND).

From 2021 to September 24, 2024, African swine fever has occurred in 21 districts, cities and towns in Nghe An province, forcing the destruction of 63,193 pigs, total weight: 3,552 tons. Currently, there are 17 small outbreaks (epidemic communes) in households that have not passed 21 days in 7 districts.

Regarding lumpy skin disease, from 2021 to September 24, 2024, it has occurred in districts, cities and towns in the province. Number of sick and diseased cattle: 9,852, of which 2,458 were destroyed, total weight: 331 tons. There is currently an outbreak that has not passed 21 days in Yen Thanh district.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine is the focal point for compiling the records) has compiled the records of damage support for the above two diseases from 2021-2023 of districts, cities, and towns and sent a document to the Department of Finance for consideration, advising the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Ministry of Finance to support funding for disease prevention and control with a total amount of 132 billion VND including the Fund to support damage for breeders with sick and destroyed livestock and the Fund for destruction, direction, and inspection at the district level.

At the meeting, Mr. Phung Thanh Vinh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasized that African swine fever and lumpy skin disease are dangerous diseases that directly affect the economy of livestock farmers and the total livestock herd in the province. Therefore, financial support for damages caused by these diseases must be implemented soon to ensure the rights of the people, helping them feel secure in re-herding.

The representative of the Department of Finance said that for issues related to funding to support livestock farmers affected by epidemics, localities need to have specific and clear documents, then submit them to competent authorities for approval. In addition, localities also proposed that in addition to support for livestock farmers, they also request funding support for chemicals and protective equipment for the force tasked with destroying livestock.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De has assigned the districts to compile and approve the list of households suffering specific losses in the communes, the number of livestock destroyed due to African swine fever and lumpy skin disease. On that basis, the report will be sent to the Provincial People's Committee to complete procedures and submit documents to the Ministry of Finance. And when approved by the Ministry of Finance, the funding source will be focused on handling and supporting people suffering losses due to African swine fever and lumpy skin disease.

Regarding the policy to support winter crop production costs, the representative of the agricultural sector said that a comprehensive review will be conducted and policies will be issued for the period 2026 - 2030. Regarding the funding to support winter crop production in 2024, according to the proposal of the Department of Finance, it will advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council to issue a one-time support policy.

The meeting also unanimously approved the draft Decision on Regulations on decentralization of appraisal of projects and production linkage plans under national target programs in Nghe An province./.