Agricultural sector likely to achieve growth target this year

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan told a ministry meeting in Hanoi on September 6 that the sector could achieve this year’s 3.5 percent growth target, set the Prime Minister. 

The PM set agro-forestry-fisheries exports hitting 33 billion USD and 31 percent of communes meeting new rural development criteria. 

In the first eight months this year, agro-forestry-fisheries exports rose 13.5 percent year-on-year to 23.7 billion USD, 5.1 billion USD of which was from the shipment of aquatic products, up 18.1 percent annually. Total aquatic exports this year are estimated to hit 8 billion USD, a billion USD more than 2016. 

Nguyen Duy Vinh, deputy head of the ministry’s Planning Department, said the sector has focused on restructuring and choosing key products at national, regional and provincial levels while expanding export markets, popularising Vietnamese farm produce and improving food hygiene and safety. 

According to the Cultivation Department, rice production nationwide is likely to increase by 250,000 – 300,000 tonnes annually to 44.1 million tonnes this year. 

Tuan said the values of animal breeding, fisheries and forestry are expected to expand by 3 percent, 5 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. 

On new rural development, up to 2,813 communes met 19 criteria as of the late August, or 31.5 percent, surpassing the target. Meanwhile, 34 districts were recognised as new-style rural areas. Between now and the year’s end, four districts will achieve the status