| The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Minh Hoan. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA/CVN |
Overcoming the challenges under the combined influence of climatic hazards and the COVID-19 pandemic, amplified by an unfavorable global political situation, Vietnam has managed to meet its socio-economic objectives, which places it in a good position at the global level. .
Agricultural production becomes the locomotive that pulls the country’s growth upwards. The permanent efforts of the government and the inhabitants have borne fruit, the results are there to prove it. Agricultural, forestry and aquatic products export turnover reached a record USD 53.22 billion, up 9.3% from 2021, while trade surplus widened. amounted to more than 8.5 billion USD, showing a growth of 30% year-on-year.
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| A Vietnamese stand at the International French Agricultural Show held in March 2022. |
| Photo : Nguyen Thu Ha/CVN |
A difficult but productive year
“We are proud, not only of the figures, but also of the invisible results”, underlined the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lê Minh Hoan, regarding the 2022 report of the sector. Without forgetting to highlight the role of agriculture as “an economic pillar“, who assures “the growth” et “food safety”, a problem that many countries in the world have had to face.
Rising prices, especially of logistics and inputs, and the disruption of the global supply chain were a headache for the agricultural sector in all countries. Faced with these fluctuations, the Vietnamese government has adopted a policy favorable to agriculture, while developing the rural sector. “The spirit of agricultural production gradually advances with the agricultural economy”, which highlighted “the crucial role of the market” agricultural products.
Indeed, the year 2022 marked their entry into multiple foreign supermarkets, namely: grapefruits in the United States and New Zealand, or tropical fruits (durian, bananas, sweet potatoes, etc.) in China. Here is “a fine illustration of the presence of Vietnamese products on the international market which proves the importance of our exports“, affirmed the minister.
This new spirit has led to multi-sector production, such as rice growing associated with shrimp farming, for example. An intensive restructuring that brought added value to farmers.
“I appreciate the role of the thousands of households across the country. Farmers from the Mekong Delta, the Red River, the highlands or the Center have succeeded in creating products specific to each region. These are OCOP certified products (“To each municipality, its product”), which serve to promote local agricultural potential”, underlined Lê Minh Hoan. Before highlightingthe close relationship between the State, the inhabitant, the market and the company”.
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| Agrotourism to discover the model of greenhouse strawberry cultivation is developed by the Agricultural Cooperative 19-5, Môc Châu district, mountainous province of Son La (North). |
| Photo : Tran Viet/VNA/CVN |
Information exchange space
The market economy calls on the peasants to “produce what customers want”, thus guaranteeing outlets for agricultural products. Companies are looking at “sustainable, long-term strategies”, in close collaboration with the farmers, in order to “standardize production upstream of the supply chain”, he noted.
This cooperation will allow “establish specific agricultural sectors” and of “create production spaces” conducive to sharing information related to needs. Take the example of the farmers’ union in Gia Lai (Central Highlands) or Hà Tinh (Centre). This is to facilitate communication between local authorities, scientists and producers. “This information, concerning the fluctuation of the market, is provided to the farmers, thus helping them to avoid the risks of drift”, affirmed the minister.
Risks are inevitable, therefore, “the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is seeking to guide the six major raw material producing regions which ensure that the congestion of goods during the harvest season is resolved. We will gradually move forward to encompass the food processing process, instead of exporting only raw materials as today“, he added. And to add:The control of the production guarantees with relevance the value of our products at the national and international level”.
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| The year 2023 is expected to be promising for Vietnam’s agricultural sector. |
| Photo : Minh Tuan/VNA/CVN |
Towards more fruitful prospects in 2023
In 2022, the Political Bureau of the Party adopted Resolutions on regional development, which specify the objectives of agricultural and rural development by 2030, vision 2045. Concretely, agriculture will continue to develop and will become “an economic pillar”, ensuring “national food security”.
She must alsoenhance the advantages of localities, by emphasizing the specialties of each region, in particular of minority ethnic groups“, continued the minister. By emphasizing “high-tech agricultural development and expansion of agrotourism models”. Prioritizing the missions from the central to the local and strengthening the relationship between the regions in order to develop action plans or projects, these are the orientations envisaged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with a view to “persevere and enhance the results obtained in 2022”.
The year 2023 will still be difficult, negatively impacted by the global economy. Therefore, contextualized action plans will be essential to ensure the continuity of the agricultural production chain.
Moreover, currently, the European or American markets require the traceability of imported agricultural products, in addition to ensuring their quality. “We will then have to pay attention to fair trade and more responsible production, preserving the environment. Companies themselves will have to make a radical change according to the commitments at COP 26, to accelerate their export activities“, salon Le Minh Hoan.
It’s time to “diversify our range of agricultural products as well as the food processing process“, he added. This will require strong collaboration between communities, small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to build specific production zones.
The support of the state, of the government, and in particular the efforts of the peasants, the companies and the whole of society constitute “the crucial elements and strong motivation to further develop Vietnam’s agriculture in future years“, a conclu le ministre Le Minh Hoan.
British Hips/CVN
