Agriculture Sector: Striving for a growth rate of 4-5% for the whole year

In the first 6 months of 2023, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) focused on directing and developing specific action plans in line with the production development scenario; promptly and effectively coordinated with localities to flexibly direct production organization according to actual developments, so the agricultural and fishery sectors all increased. The total production value of the industry is estimated at more than 6,200 billion VND, an increase of 4.83% over the same period in 2022.

Some areas are bright spots in terms of growth such as cultivation, up 2.55%. As of early June, the whole province had planted 18,991 hectares; of which, rice was 9,255 hectares, and other crops were 9,736 hectares, reaching 61.2% of the yearly plan. The total area of perennial crops was more than 12,621 hectares, up 2%; of which, fruit trees were 6,626 hectares. The work of converting crop structure also achieved certain results, with a total area of more than 504 hectares; of which, 355.65 hectares were converted on rice land, 148.8 hectares on other land, exceeding 9.1% of the plan.

Ninh Son farmers harvest rice. Photo: VM

More significantly, production linkage activities have been strengthened, so agricultural product output is stable. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with localities, enterprises, cooperatives and production households to continue to consolidate and improve the operational efficiency of 63 agricultural value chain linkage models, including: 33 rice value chains, 9 corn value chains, 4 green asparagus value chains, 4 grape value chains, and 13 vegetable value chains.

The growth results show the effectiveness of applying high technology (CNC) to reduce production costs and increase profits. The winter-spring crop implemented 35 large fields with a total area of over 4,719 hectares, reaching 100% of the plan; of which, 4 new fields/400 hectares were deployed and 31 fields with an area of 4,319.8 hectares were maintained and expanded. The summer-autumn crop implemented 14 large fields with a total area of over 1,016 hectares.

The investment situation of CNC agricultural projects has many positive changes. There have been 31 CNC agricultural projects put into effective operation, including: 18 crop projects, 3 livestock projects, 8 aquaculture projects, 2 agricultural product processing projects. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with the Management Board of CNC Agricultural Zone of Ho Chi Minh City to deploy scientific and technical advances in the agricultural sector; coordinate the development of CNC agricultural production models; support human resources for CNC agricultural production; support, advise, and transfer scientific research results.

The livestock sector has developed in the direction of reducing the total herd to focus on improving product quality. The total herd of livestock in the province is currently 502,237, down 2.8% over the same period, reaching 91.9% of the plan; the total herd of poultry is more than 2.3 million, down 6.8% over the same period. The total herd of livestock and poultry has decreased, but the output of fresh meat has increased by 5% over the same period (estimated at 21,028 tons), showing that the agricultural sector has effectively implemented the Project on Developing Livestock in a safe direction with high economic value in 2022 and until 2025. At the same time, it continues to maintain production chains associated with the consumption of livestock products and strictly implement quarantine control, veterinary hygiene, and slaughter. Therefore, the production value of the livestock sector still increased by 1.75% over the same period.

Ninh Phuoc farmers develop green asparagus according to the value chain, bringing high economic efficiency.

Photo: Tien Manh

In seafood exploitation, it is noteworthy that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities are interested in implementing urgent tasks and solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, along with directing effective production and reorganizing coastal and offshore fishing under the province's management. In the first 6 months of the year, pelagic fish appeared in relatively high output, the number of fishing vessels participating in fishing accounted for an average of 83% of fishing vessels in the whole province. The total output reached more than 55,802 tons; production efficiency was quite good, the production value of seafood exploitation increased by 7.58% over the same period.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first half of 2023, the proportion of added value in total production value increased, however, the growth rate in all sectors of the industry was uneven, only concentrated in the field of aquaculture, slow growth in agriculture and forestry always decreased due to limited capital investment in forest development. The value of forestry production only reached over 42 billion VND, down 3.49% over the same period. The limitation of capital investment in forest development from 2021 to present not only affects the growth rate, but also directly affects the forest cover target by 2025.

To ensure the annual growth rate of 4-5% as planned, in the last 6 months of the year, the agricultural sector will continue to implement the key and breakthrough tasks of the sector; direct the production of the summer-autumn crop to achieve the highest efficiency associated with the work of converting the crop structure and producing large fields. Continue to develop livestock, drastically implement animal quarantine, slaughter control, food safety and hygiene, and monitor livestock and poultry diseases in localities across the province. Minimize damage caused by pests, planthoppers, and diseases on crops and livestock. Focus on implementing solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; mobilize in-depth investment, guide offshore fishing production and support fishing vessels to exploit distant waters. Direct and guide aquaculture according to good production processes, monitor the environment, provide technical guidance on production, and prevent diseases in farming areas. Continue to inspect and supervise the re-examination of forest planting and care of protective and special-use forests. Coordinate with relevant units to advise on completing the report integrating data on the Forestry Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 in the province.

Mr. Tung

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