2014 - Bumper year for agriculture

Agricultural restructuring and the new rural building programme have paid off, attracting the enthusiastic support of citizens. Agricultural and rural infrastructure development, seafood development policies and maritime economy in line with national sovereignty protection have received due attention.

The sector's progress has helped improve the living conditions of rural people and spur socio-economic development, ensure security and defence and protect the ecological environment.

High growth, high export value

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) says this year most agricultural products, especially shrimp, coffee, pepper, rice, cassava and fruits have been consumed strongly on international markets. Meanwhile, due to market difficulties, rubber and tra fish production is on par with last year.

Overcoming a number of difficulties, seafood exploitation has witnessed new progress towards accelerating offshore fishing and applying advanced technologies and modern equipment to raise exploitation value, quality and efficiency, for instance tuna fishing in Binh Dinh province.

Seafood exploitation is estimated at 2.68 million tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%. While a programme to build composite-hulled tuna fishing ships and upgrade offshore fishing vessels is being strongly implemented.

Better disease prevention and control has helped raise aquaculture output to 3.62 million tonnes, a rise of 4% against a year earlier, of which shrimp has reached 660.000 tonnes, up 20.4%. Particularly, this year shrimp goes for a good price, bringing super-profit for farmers.

Agro-forestry and seafood processing industry continues to develop strongly while its consumption and export markets have been expanded.

The agricultural sector has recorded an export turnover of nearly US$31 billion this year, a year-on-year increase of 11.2%. Its production value has grown by 3.6% and GDP has risen by 3.3%, higher than the Government set target of 3.27% and last year's growth of 2.64%.

The results can be attributed to positive changes made in the agricultural restructuring process and effective implementation of the national programme on building new rural areas. Around 97% villages have so far approved new rural development plans and more than 9,000 models have been put into operation.

2015 focuses on food hygiene and safety in agriculture

In addition to impressive achievements, the sector still reveals some shortcomings, such as incomprehensive implementation of agricultural restructuring, growth being lower than the average rate in 2006-2010, low quality in some agricultural products and difficult consumption in some products like rubber, tra fish and sugar.

Management of quality and food hygiene and safety remains an obstacle while trading of fake or counterfeit input materials and low quality products and overusing of fertiliser and banned chemicals in production are complicated.

Incomes of most farmers, especially those in remote and mountainous areas, are low while the number of poor households is still high and deforestation and environment pollution rises.

To deal with the challenges and difficulties, the MARD has set targets for 2015, including developing the high-added value agricultural sector, restructuring the sector together with building new rural areas, raising incomes and living conditions for citizens, and ensuring social security, security and defence and environment protection.

It aims to increase its production value by 3.5-3.7% in 2015, GDP of 3-3.3%, and forest coverage of 42% and reach an export turnover of US$32 billion. The number of villages reaching new rural area standard will be 20%.

Towards this end, there will be added focus in 2015 on research to produce better crop varieties, apply modern technology in processing and preservation as well as reducing post-harvest losses, says MARD Minister Cao Duc Phat.

He adds that the agriculture sector needs to continue its restructuring process, increase output and quality of produce, and become more competitive.

He also has underscored that the in 2015 the whole sector will focus on ensuring food hygiene and safety in agriculture, particularly building and restarting the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme.

(Source: VOV News)