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The Vietnamese agricultural sector needs to focus on its main objective

According to Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, thousands of businesses will have to step up their efforts in many areas to achieve three key objectives set for 2017. Speaking at a conference held last week in Ha Noi, Cuong has published an overview of agricultural activities in the first half of 2017 and set the orientation for the second half of 2017.

The three main goals that the Minister mentions include: growth of 3.05%; Export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products reached 33 billion USD; And 31% of communes across the country reach new rural standards. Mr. Cuong said that the basic objectives set by the government have been achieved, but the agriculture sector still faces many difficulties related to the market and the weather. He also recalled the continuing weaknesses in the industry, including the weak, unsustainable value chain; Low investment, lack of closed production lines, lack of skilled human resources and loose cooperation among actors in the industry.

Emphasizing the challenges in the second half of 2017, Cuong said that agriculture must prepare for the difficulties in both domestic and international markets, and address the problems of processing and marketing.

According to Mr. Hoang Thanh Van, Director of Livestock Department, the growth of livestock sector has many weaknesses, especially in pig raising. He suggested that localities cooperate to assist farmers in boosting their productivity.

Mr. Cuong said that more workshops should be held to promote the export of chicken and pork, not only to China but also to other markets. He emphasized the need to restructure the livestock sector, and all actors needing to review the plan, taking into account market-related factors and the impact of climate change.

Vietnam's agro-forestry-fishery exports surged sharply in the first half of 2017

In the first half of 2017, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, export value of agriculture, forestry and fishery products in Vietnam reached 17.1 billion USD, up 13.1% over the same period in 2016. Of which, agricultural exports increased 15.4% over the same period compared to $ 9.1 billion, with exports of rice, rubber and tea increasing both in volume and value. Vietnam exported 2.8 million tons of rice, earning $ 1.2 billion, up 6.3% in volume and 5% in value over the same period. China continues to be Vietnam's largest importer of rice.

Vietnam's rubber exports in the first half of 2017 reached 460,000 tons, earning US $ 867 million, up 5% in volume and 59% in value over the same period in 2016. Tea exports also recorded a 17% In volume and 15% in value in comparable period, up to 63,000 tons and value reached 98 million USD.

Meanwhile, despite declining exports, the value of coffee and cashew exports continued to increase in the first 6 months of 2017, MARD stresses. Coffee exports in the first 6 months of 2017 reached 817,000 tonnes, valued at $ 1.86 billion, down 16.7% in volume but up 10% in value over the first 6 months of 2016. Decreased 4.5% in volume to 149,000 tons but value increased 21% to 1.5 billion USD.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, seafood exports reached $ 3.5 billion in the first half of 2017, up 14.1 percent in value. The United States, the EU, Japan, China and South Korea continue to be Vietnam's largest seafood markets, accounting for 54.6% of total exports.

Exports of forest products reached $ 3.8 billion, up 13% over the same period. In particular, exports of wood furniture reached $ 3.6 billion, up 13.2% over the first half of 2016. The main export markets of Vietnam are the US, China and Japan.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also announced that Vietnam spent $ 14.6 billion on agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the first half of 2017, up 25.4 percent from the first half of 2016.

According to Vietnamnet