Hanoi (VNA) – The agriculture sector
will have to make greater efforts to fulfil three major targets set for this
year with responsibility given to leaders of each units.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Nguyen Xuan Cuong made the affirmation at a conference in Hanoi on June 30 to
review the sector’s performances in the first half of this year and lay out orientations
for the second half.
The targets include a growth rate of 3.05
percent, 33 billion USD in export turnover of agro-forestry-aquatic products,
and 31 percent of the country’s communes nationwide meeting the new-style rural
area building standards.
Cuong underlined difficulties related to market
and weather condition facing the sector over the first six months of this year,
saying that most of the basic targets set by the Government have been
fulfilled.
However, the Minister pointed out shortcomings,
particularly the poor, unsustainable value chain, low investment, a lack of closed
production lines, poor qualifications of personnel and loose coordination among
stakeholders.
The minister also highlighted challenges the
sector is likely to face in the second half of the year, particularly difficulties
on both domestic and foreign markets, as well as weaknesses in processing and
marketing.
Hoang Thanh Van, Director of the Ministry’s
Department of Animal Husbandry, mentioned the sluggish growth in livestock
breeding, particularly in pig farming.
He suggested the ministry instruct localities to
join hands in helping local farmers to enhance the efficiency of the animal
husbandry.
Minister Cuong said conferences will be
organised to seek ways to boost exports of chicken meat and pork, not only to the
Chinese market but also other markets.
He stressed the need to restructure the
livestock sector, saying that all units must review their planning schemes taking
in account market and climate change factors.
According to Vu Duc Hung, Vice Director of the
Ministry’s Department of Planning, the agriculture sector recorded a growth
rate at 2.65 percent in the first half of 2017, with the highest increases seen
in aquatic products (5.08 percent) and in forestry (4.31 percent).
The export value of agro-forestry-aquatic
products reached 17.1 billion USD, up 13.1 percent from the same period last
year.
By the end of June, as many as 2,745 communes
were recognised as new-style rural areas, or 30.76 percent of the total
nation’s number, up 89 communes as compared to the same period last year. Thirty
four districts got the new-style rural area status, an increase of 11 districts
from the end of 2016.-VNA