Farming sector striving to grow 3.05 percent

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Cong Tuan, said if no adverse change occurs and the cultivation, livestock, aquaculture and forestry segments maintain their current performance, the agricultural sector will reach its target of at least 3.05 percent growth in 2017. 

Fisheries are showing good signs of growth and export development

A Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development report showed that despite natural disasters, including floods, agricultural production continued to increase.

In the first eight months of 2017, farm produce, forest product and seafood exports yielded US$23.7 billion, up 13.5 percent from the same period last year. Seafood exports alone reached an estimated US$5.1 billion, an increase of 18.1 percent, and are expected to reach US$8 billion in 2017, US$1 billion plus higher than 2016. The deputy minister said farm produce, forest product and seafood exports would reach or exceed US$33 billion in 2017.

Cultivation and livestock breeding are expected to contribute greatly to the agriculture and rural development sector’s growth from now to the yearend. The Department of Animal Husbandry forecast that livestock breeding this year would grow three percent compared to last year, given increased pork and poultry egg production for the Tet (Lunar New Year) market early next year.

According to the Department of Crop Production, rice production is expected to reach an estimated 44.1 million tonnes, 250,000-300,000 tonnes higher than 2016.

One of the biggest problems faced by farmers is pests, rainstorms in northern provinces, and floods in the Mekong Delta. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has told the Water Resources Department, the Department of Crop Production, and the Plant Protection Department to keep a close eye on the situation to ensure safe rice production.

At a regular press conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on September 6, Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan, said it is feasible for the agricultural sector to reach a 3.05 percent growth in 2017. Cultivation is expected to grow two percent, livestock breeding three percent, fishery five percent plus, and forestry 6.6 percent, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has set a target of a three percent growth and US$35 billion in farm produce, forest product and seafood export revenues in 2018 for the whole sector.