At a recent press conference of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien underlined the encouraging results that the agricultural sector had achieved in the past 9 months.

The sector remained a pillar of Vietnam’s economy with positive growth in the third quarter of 2021, aiming to achieve a growth of 2.8% for the whole year and export turnover of US$ 44 billion.

The sector achieved an added value growth rate of 2.74%, contributing 23.52% to the general growth of the economy and ensuring abundant food resources for domestic consumption and export.

Most of this growth came from farming. The aquaculture segment observed an increase of just 0.66% and visibly plummeted in the third quarter.

In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected the production-processing-consumption chain of Vietnam’s socio-economic activities, especially of the agricultural products.

Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Planning Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that to meet the agricultural sector’s target growth for 2021 of 2.8%, the husbandry and aquaculture segments must achieve strong growth in the final quarter.

A shrimp processing factory owned by Fimex Jointstock Company. Photo: Hai quan Online

“If we do not boost these two segments, it is unlikely that the agricultural sector can meet the goal set for the year when the costs for agricultural materials are increasing. This is a major challenge for the sector,” Viet said.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has released an action plan focusing on four major solutions:

The Ministry will guide on adjusting business and production to adapt to changing weather conditions and the Covid-19 pandemic situations in each locality to implement effective Covid and natural disaster prevention while still respond to the increasing export and domestic needs towards the end of the year.

The Ministry will also focus on boosting market development, removing barriers and creating favorable conditions for the consumption of agricultural products in Vietnam and other countries.

In addition, the ministry will strengthen cooperation with telecommunications corporations such as Viettel Post and VNPT Post and businesses with professional delivery apps to enhance digitalization in the agricultural sector and agricultural production and consumption, strengthen e-commerce trade and bring agricultural products to e-commerce platforms to promote and connect markets for agricultural product consumption.

The ministry will strengthen e-commerce trade and bring agricultural products to e-commerce platforms to promote and connect markets for agricultural product consumption. Photo: Bao Nhan dan

The Ministry will work closely with authorities at all levels and business associations to address logistics and transportation issues while enhancing international trade promotion and export and keeping agricultural businesses updated with information on trade agreements.

The Ministry will continue to cooperate with Vietnam’s trade offices abroad to support localities export agricultural products that meet the standards set by key markets such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, China and Japan.

The final solution is strengthening effective natural disaster prevention and preparedness, minimizing damages to the economy and production.

The risks from natural hazards towards the end of the year remain high due to unpredictable weather conditions, the number of tropical storms predicted to hit Vietnam, constraints in water resources due to salinization and drought, especially in the Mekong Delta Region.

With aquaculture, Deputy General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Hung underlined that the challenges facing the segment were not in achieving the set targets but in circulation and recovery of production activities.

Production will return to normal when processing businesses can resume operation. The aquaculture sector will continue fisheries activities and diversify the ranges of aquaculture products to achieve the overall production and export goals set for this year.

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