Agricultural production was US$4.5 billion in the first half of the year

In the first half of this year, exports of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products is estimated US$18,81 billion, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the same period in 2019. The trade surplus was US$4.5 billion, an increase of US$339 million compared with the same period in 2019.

The export of agriculture, forestry and fishery products can still reach the target of US$41 billion a year.

According to data from the General Directorate of Statistics (Ministry of Planning and Investment), to Q2, the agricultural sector regained growth, production value of the whole industry 2.19%.

Generally, in the first six months of the year, the production value of the entire industry increased1.18% compared to the same period in 2019. The expected growth rate of GDP in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in six months to reach the top 1%.

According to the latest information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the export turnover of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products in six months is estimated at US$18,81 billion, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the same period in 2019. Trade surplus wasUS$4.5 billion, up US$339 million over the same period last year.

In the first six months of the year, nine projects processing products of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, with a total investment of VND10,000 billion, were started, inaugurated and putinto operation.Nationwide, 58.2% of communes and 127 district units met the new rural standard.

Besides the encouraging results, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development admit that the past six months of the sector are still a number of limitations. That is the increase exports of agricultural, forestry and fisheries signs have leveled off. The cause is mainly due to the price ofmany agricultural products declining and exports to the Chinese market decreasing.

The deployment of solutions to remove difficulties and to organize the activities of trade promotion and promoting consumption of agricultural productswas slow due to the blockades and travel restrictions.

In addition, innovation and development of forms of organization of production have improved, but still not met the requirements. The arrangement, renovation companies, agriculture and forestry were also slow.

All year, full growth the agricultural sector strives to reach 2.5 - 3% while total export value of the year reached $41 billion.

Speakingwith reporters fromCustoms News, the permanent deputy Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan saidthe situation was quite unpredictable due to Covid-19.

As Covid-19 continued to flare up, China continues to apply measures to strictly control the border. In markets such as Japan and South Korea it is also difficult to avoid the risk of outbreak.

"However, if the situation makesgood progress, the agricultural sector can still achieve the export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fisheries at US$41 billion for theyear,” the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development determines to achieve the proposed goals, one of the key tasks is topromote athriving market, removing the barriers, facilitate the consumption of farmers, forestry and fisheries through improving the quality ofinformation, forecast the market in the context of the impact of Covid-19, especially timely warnings and removing barriers, problems arise when exporting agricultural products.

Along with that, strengthen the activity of trade promotion in the country and abroad to promote typical products, clean and safe; develop export markets; and develop the supply chain.

In addition, promoting mechanization to reduce post-harvest losses, reduce costs and lower product costs, support and create conditions for the processing industry, vegetables, coconut, agricultural, forestry, large-scale, modern technology construction and go into operation immediately in the year 2020. Boosting the capacity of existing processing plants to serve domestic demand and export.