In the first 6 months of the year, the agricultural and rural sector carried out its work in conditions with mixed advantages and challenges such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts disrupting global supply, saline intrusion in the country, forest fire risks as well as animal diseases still posing a high risk. The Ministry and the entire sector have proactively coordinated with ministries, sectors and localities, thanks to which agriculture has maintained a high growth rate, especially the export results of agricultural, forestry and fishery products (AFF) reaching a record high of over 29 billion USD.
According to the General Statistics Office, the GDP growth rate of the agricultural sector in the first 6 months of the year reached 3.38%, which is high compared to the past 5 years, only lower than 2021 (3.7%); of which, crop cultivation increased by 2.13%, livestock by 4.94%, forestry by 5.34% and fishery by 3.76%.
The most prominent feature in cultivation is rice production, increasing in area, yield and output. The output of the country’s rice acreage has been harvested at 23.3 million tons, up 1.6% over the same period last year, and is likely to reach over 43 million tons of rice in 2024. The current rice price is relatively high, farmers are excited because the rice harvest is good and the price is good.
Livestock production grew well, with the pig herd estimated to increase by 2.9%; meat output of 2.54 million tons, up 5.1%; Poultry estimated to increase by 2.3%; meat output of 1.21 million tons, up 4.9% and eggs of nearly 10.1 billion, up 5.1%; Buffalo herd estimated to decrease by 3.9%; meat output for slaughter reached 62.1 thousand tons, equivalent to the same period last year. Cattle herd estimated to decrease by 0.9%; meat output of 255.9 thousand tons, up 1.1%; milk output of 643.7 thousand tons, up 5.5%.
Aquaculture was favorable in both exploitation and aquaculture, with total output reaching 4.38 million tons, up 2.7%, of which exploitation output reached 1.95 million tons, up 1.0%; aquaculture output reached 2.43 million tons, up 4.1%.
Agricultural and fishery exports were a bright spot, reaching 29.2 billion USD in the first 6 months of the year. The trade surplus increased by 8.28 billion USD, up 62.4% over the same period in 2023. If the national trade surplus is calculated, the agricultural sector accounts for about 72%. Of which, the export value of the main agricultural products group was 15.76 billion USD, up 24.4%; main forestry products 7.95 billion USD, up 21.2%; aquatic products 4.36 billion USD, up 4.9%; livestock products 240 million USD, up 3.8%.
Results of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in the first 6 months of 2024
The target for the whole year of 2024 is that the growth rate of added value of the agriculture and forestry sector is estimated at 3.2 – 4%; the total export turnover of agriculture and forestry strives to reach 57-58 billion USD; the forest coverage rate is stable at 42%; the rate of communes meeting new rural standards is 79-80%, the number of districts meeting new rural standards is 290 districts.
To achieve this goal, agencies and units need to synchronously deploy laws, strategies, programs and projects. Direct production in accordance with weather and market developments to ensure high crop yields and ensure national food security. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen direction and inspection of localities in implementing measures to prevent and handle diseases in livestock. Monitor weather developments, forecast fishing grounds and market demand to promptly direct effective aquaculture and exploitation. Direct drastic measures to combat IUU fishing to remove the yellow card.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien highly appreciated the achievements of the whole industry in the first 6 months of the year in the context of great difficulties and challenges. The trade promotion sector has had positive changes, reflected in impressive export turnover, led by forestry reaching 7.95 billion USD (up 21.2%); aquatic products 4.36 billion USD (up 4.9%); vegetables and fruits 3.43 billion USD (up 28.1%); coffee 3.22 billion USD (up 34.6%), rice 2.98 billion USD (up 32%) with a volume of 4.68 million tons.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung speaks at the Conference
Regarding the crop cultivation sector, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung requested the Department of Crop Production to coordinate with relevant units to collect opinions to complete the draft of the detailed Decree on Rice Land; complete the dossier to submit to the Government for amendment and supplementation of the Law on Crop Cultivation. Directing the production of the Summer-Autumn, Autumn-Winter crops in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on technical solutions, urging and inspecting the implementing units to maintain good results of the crop cultivation sector in the last 6 months of the year.
