Agriculture export reach over US$ 24 billion in the first 6 months

Despite facing many difficulties, in the first 6 months of 2021, agriculture achieved many good results, aiming for export turnover to reach US$ 45 billion for the whole year.

MARD sets a target of achieving a GDP growth rate of about 3-3.2% and a total export value of US$ 45 billion for 2021. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Growth rate

Gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2021 was estimated to increase by 6.61% over the same period last year, higher than the growth rate of 0.39% in the second quarter of 2020 but lower than the growth rate of 6.73% in the second quarter of 2018 and 2019; in which agro-forestry-fishery sector increased by 4.11%.

The growth rate of the agro-forestry-fishery sector in the first 6 months of 2021 increased significantly compared to the same period last year. The reason is the high rice productivity in the Winter-Spring, the stable development of livestock and fishery, and the good results in agricultural fishery products.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the total GDP of the agro-forestry-fishery sector increased by 3.6%, and the total production value increased by 3.84% over the same period last year.

For the agricultural sector, total GDP increased by 3.51%, and production value increased by 3.71%. For forestry, GDP increased by 3.98%, and production value increased by 3.5%. For fishery, GDP increased by 4.25%, and production value increased by 4.1%.

Agro-forestry-fishery production

Agro-forestry-fishery production in the first 6 months of 2021 took place in relatively favorable weather conditions, with good crop yields. Pig farming recovered, and poultry production developed well. Seafood exports have shown signs of recovery.

Specifically, the country's Winter-Spring rice yield was estimated at 68,300 kilograms per hectare for agricultural production, increasing by 2,600 kilograms per hectare compared to the previous year's Winter-Spring crop. Total rice production reached 21.58 million tonnes in the first 6 months of 2021, up 673.1 thousand tonnes over the same period last year.

As of the end of June 2021, the total planting area of ​​beans is 542.7 thousand hectares. The total area of ​​existing perennials was estimated at 3,614.3 thousand hectares, up 1.3% over the same period in 2020.

For livestock, the total number of cows in the country increased by 2.5%; the total number of pigs increased by 11.6%; the total number of poultry increased by 5.4%. As of June 21, 2021, the whole country no longer has blue ear disease in pigs.

For forestry production, in the first 6 months of 2021, the newly concentrated planted forest area was estimated at 110.4 thousand hectares, up 3.1% over the same period last year.

In the first 6 months of 2021, seafood production was estimated at 4.1 million tonnes, up 2.8% over the same period last year. Aquaculture production reached 2.1 million tonnes, up 4.1%; and exploited fishery output reached 2 million tonnes, up 1.4% over the same period last year.

Export turnover

Total agricultural export turnover in the first 6 months of 2021 reached US$ 24.23 billion, up 28.2% over the same period last year. In which the total export turnover of main agricultural products reached US$ 10.4 billion, up 13.3%. Total export turnover of forest products reached US$ 8.7 billion, up 61.5%. Total seafood export turnover reached US$ 4.05 billion, up 12.5%.

New rural construction

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5,343 communes meet new rural standards out of 8,267 communes of the whole country. The number of communes meeting the newly enhanced rural standard is 351, the number of communes meeting the model rural standard is 38.

In addition, there are 191 out of 664 districts in 36 provinces and centrally-run cities that the Prime Minister has recognized as meeting new rural district standards. The number of provinces with 100% of communes meeting new rural standards is 12.

Growth target for 2021

For the whole year 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sets a target of achieving a GDP growth rate of about 3-3.2% and a total export value of US$ 45 billion.