Make use of each market for export of agricultural products

Although the export of agro-forestry-fishery products in the first seven months of the year decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that if we make the best efforts and there are no major changes in the global situation, the total export value this year will reach over US$40 billion.

Trade surplus of US$5.2 billion

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that in terms of food production, as of mid-July, the country cultivated 6.4 million hectares. The harvested area reached 3.6 million hectares and produced about 23.15 million tons of paddy.

Rice exports in seven months reached nearly four million tons worth US$2 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.5% in volume but a year-on-year increase of 11% in value. Notably, Vietnam is the second largest rice exporting country in the world amid theCovid-19 pandemic.

In terms of food production, all food groups increased. Specifically, poultry meat increased by 12%, beef 6.5%, seafood 1.6%.Thus, the plan of nearly 5.8 million tons of meat (pork, beef, chicken)and the target of 8.4 million tons of seafood, 14 billion eggs and 1.1 million tons of milk for the whole year will be ensured.

Particularly for dairy products, China has officially licensed two enterprises to export to the Chinese market. In 2020, Vietnamese dairy products will be exported to over 50 countries, including high-end markets such as the United States, South Korea, the EU, China.

In general, the export of agro-forestry-fishery products in the first seven months of the year reached US$22.3 billion (down by 2.8% compared to the same period last year)but saw a surplus of US$5.2 billion (up 3.8% over the same period last year).

On the basis of the achieved results, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that if we make the best efforts and there are no major changes in the world situation, the annual export value of agro-forestry- fishery products will be likely to reach over US$40 billion. The whole sector strives to reach the target of about US$41 billion.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that the sector strives to reach a growth of 2.6 - 3%. Of which, agriculture increases by 2.85%; fisheries 3.0% and forestry 2.57%.

Make use of the narrowest market slots

Promotion of production along with market development, removal of barriers and facilitation for the consumption of agriculture, forestry and fisheries are the two main solutions that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has determined to be promoted to achieve the goals set out.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Planning Department (MARD), from a production perspective, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will closely monitor the weather, drought, saline intrusion and harmful organisms to guide localities to haveadjustments on seasons, varieties, transform plant structure and apply new technical advances to adapt.

To focus on directing the care and harvest of summer-autumn rice and farming seasonal rice in the Northern provinces; directing the harvest of the summer-autumn crop, the care and production of seasonal crop, expanding the area of ​​the autumn-winter crop in 2020 in the Southern provinces (about 800,000 - 820,000 hectares, an increase of about 80,000 - 100,000 hectares compared to the plan).

At the same time, to continue to control epidemics in cattle and poultry, especially to avoid re-infection of African swine fever; to speed up the progress and scale of re-production of  pigs to stabilize the domestic pork market and price; and to import pork with appropriate quantity, ensuring the interests of farmers and consumers.

Along with that, to improve the quality of exploitation; to reorganize sea production according to the model of cooperation and chain linkage; to promote international cooperation to exploit seafood; and to deploy solutions to create a breakthrough in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to remove the EU’s "yellow card".

From the market perspective, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development identifiedthat it need to focus on making use of each group of export markets, including the narrowest slots from time to time; taking advantage of the opportunities brought by the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to increase exports of advantageous and appropriate commodity groups amid the Covid-19 pandemic and coordinate to exploit the domestic market.

Besides, to coordinate with localities to promote the granting of codes for farming areas, traceability of products, associated with geographical indications; to change the mode of trade, consumption and export of key products.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will also work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, agencies and businesses to closely monitor price movements, supply and demand of essential agricultural products; improve the quality of market forecasts and provide information to localities and enterprises to have appropriate production and business plans,”said Mr. Nguyen Van Viet.