Minister Le Minh Hoan: Agriculture in the first nine months shows many positive signs

The agricultural sector's exports will surpass USD 60 billion in 2024

Director of the Planning Department Nguyen Van Viet reported at a meeting on October 9, which was convened by Minister Le Minh Hoan, that the first nine months of 2024 exhibited stable growth in spite of a variety of challenges, including Typhoon No. 3. The sector's overall growth rate was 3.2%, which, despite being the lowest since 2021, was still an important achievement across all fields.

In agriculture, rice output experienced a modest increase in both productivity and area, exceeding 34 million tons, which represents a 1.5% increase from the previous year. Additionally, there was considerable expansion in fruit trees, while certain crops, including soybeans and corn, experienced declines. Cashew experienced a minor decline, while rubber, coffee, and tea all demonstrated upward trends.

Additionally, the livestock sector demonstrated favorable developments, as poultry production increased by 3.4% and milk production increased by 5.6%. Nevertheless, the total pig population experienced a minor decrease as a result of disease, particularly African swine fever. Aquaculture output increased by 3.7%, while capture output increased by 0.7%, resulting in an annual estimate of 9.12 million tons in the fisheries sector.

There was a 12% decrease in the area of damaged forest, and the forestry sector experienced a growth rate of 4.96%. Timber exploitation experienced a 7% increase, resulting in a contribution of nearly 2,300 billion VND to forest environmental services.

Products such as seafood, fruits, and coffee experienced substantial growth, resulting in a 21% increase in agricultural exports to USD 46.28 billion. There is an expectation that annual exports will surpass USD 60 billion, and the trade surplus will reach USD 13.86 billion.

The sector is currently concentrating on critical tasks for the final quarter of 2024, such as the recovery of production following the typhoon and the development of investment strategies for the years 2026-2030. Additionally, the Planning Department identified substantial obstacles in 2024, such as the obstruction of fundamental infrastructure investment and Typhoon No. 3. While MARD has made strides in the distribution of public investment, it must resolve legal concerns to guarantee that infrastructure projects proceed according to plan.

Basing on community mindset in natural disaster response

Minister Le Minh Hoan underscored the significance of comprehending and interpreting both positive and negative indicators to facilitate the agricultural sector's transition from agricultural production to an agricultural economic approach.

He advocated for the establishment of conferences and plans to develop specialized high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation for 1 million hectares, sustainable agriculture recovery, and development in fields such as agricultural production, animal husbandry, and fisheries in anticipation of forthcoming challenges. The Mekong Delta is also the subject of plans for the resolution of issues such as land subsidence, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and pure water solutions.

The Minister emphasized the necessity of agricultural insurance and designated the appropriate departments to conduct research and submit a report on the subject. He emphasized the significance of standardized production processes to define losses resulting from natural disasters, diseases, or non-compliance by producers. This would facilitate the implementation of precise and accurate insurance solutions.

Furthermore, MARD intends to establish a task force to resolve the EU Ambassador's concerns, particularly concerning the Plant Protection and Animal Health Departments. The task force will underscore the necessity of thoroughly examining compliance with EU regulations.

Minister Hoan raised concerns regarding potential solutions to assist farmers in resuming production after Typhoon No. 3. He assigned various departments to both short-term recovery efforts and long-term sustainability planning.

Furthermore, it is essential to take into account the income of producers and the infrastructure criteria, particularly in mountainous regions.

"In the aftermath of Typhoon No. 3, it is imperative that we all consider the agricultural sector. To withstand the impact of natural disasters, it is necessary to develop innovative solutions, such as early action, resilience enhancement, remote sensing infrastructure, telecommunications, forecasting, warning, monitoring systems, risk segmentation, and community training", Minister Le Minh Hoan proposed.

He also underscored the significance of a community perspective, utilizing practical solutions derived from grassroots dynamism and local knowledge.