Analyzing the advantages and challenges in the second half of 2021, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that the agricultural sector will achieve and exceed the growth target of 2.78% assigned by the Government.

Despite the negative impacts of Covid-19, agricultural epidemics as well as climate change, the agricultural sector maintained a growth rate of 3.82% in the first 6 months of the year, with the total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reaching 24.23 billion USD. Once again, agriculture affirmed itself as the pillar of the economy.

In the second half of the year, the challenges facing the agricultural sector are enormous. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Phung Duc Tien had a discussion with the press on this issue, and at the same time outlined the goals and upcoming steps of the agricultural sector.

Confident to exceed the growth rate of 2.78%/year

- Mr. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, in the first half of 2021, what results has the agricultural sector achieved and is it confident in the set growth target?

- The agricultural sector implemented the plan for the first 6 months of 2021 in relatively favorable weather conditions. Although the Covid-19 pandemic continued to develop complicatedly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development always received close attention and direction from the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, the support of all levels, sectors and localities; the joint efforts, overcoming difficulties, and creativity of the business community, farmers across the country and the support of the media have created consensus in the whole society.

Thanks to that, the whole sector has achieved high and comprehensive results in all fields in the first 6 months of the year. Of which, the growth rate of the entire industry's production value was 3.84%, the GDP growth rate of the entire industry was 3.82%, exceeding the target of 3.34% assigned by the Government and the highest growth rate in the first 6 months of the year in the past 10 years.

The tasks from now until the end of 2021 are very large and difficult; the requirement is that agricultural products, especially food and foodstuff products, must meet and exceed the plan.

However, with the basis and foundation of achievements achieved in the first 6 months of the year and lessons learned after more than 1 year of implementing the "dual goal", it can be affirmed that the agricultural sector will meet and exceed the growth target in 2021 (higher than the growth rate of 2.78% assigned by the Government in Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP - PV).

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that the agricultural sector's growth plan strives to exceed the growth rate assigned by the Government by 0.2-0.4%.

Accordingly, the industry's GDP growth rate is expected to be 3-3.2%, and the industry's production value growth rate will be 3.2-3.5%, with timely and flexible management measures needed to promote the development of areas with room for growth to compensate for areas that are difficult to achieve.

Specifically, the value of crop production increased by 1.55%; rice output was over 43.19 million tons. The value of livestock production increased by over 5.93%; the annual pork output was estimated at about 4.1 million tons and the poultry output was estimated at over 1.9 million tons.

The value of aquaculture production increased by 4%; the total aquatic product output was 8.7 million tons, of which 4.82 million tons were farmed and 3.9 million tons were exploited. Forestry production value increased by 3.75%; timber output reached over 18 million m3, meeting processing and export needs.

- In your opinion, what are the opportunities and difficulties in the second half of the year for the agricultural sector?

- For the second half of 2021, there will be intertwined opportunities and difficulties, that is, the agricultural sector continues to receive attention from the leadership and direction of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, the political system of the whole country, the participation of the business community and farmers.

The sector is effectively promoting the restructuring of crops and livestock, unlocking resources for the development of production, processing and consumption of agricultural products. The implementation of VPA/FLEGT (Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) to increase the export of Vietnamese wood products to the EU and the implementation of the EVFTA Free Trade Agreement opens up a large market for Vietnamese agricultural products.

However, the difficulties and challenges from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have affected production, import and export, as well as domestic consumption.

The implementation of solutions to remove difficulties and organize trade promotion activities, boost consumption in the post-Covid-19 period is still slow due to the complicated situation, many countries still blockade, restrict travel; unpredictable weather developments (drought, saltwater intrusion is more severe, lasting for a long time), diseases on livestock, poultry, and aquatic products are complicated.

The problem of agricultural product consumption

- To achieve the goal, what solutions does the agricultural sector need in the coming time, both in terms of mechanisms and investment and support resources?

- To achieve the above goal, in the coming time, the task of the industry is to be more determined, more synchronous, and more creative to achieve the "dual goal".

That requires the entire industry to focus on efforts to seriously, effectively and synchronously implement the tasks and solutions assigned in the Resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government on the socio-economic development plan for 2021, the Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting on the implementation of the Ministry's tasks, difficulties, obstacles and key tasks in the coming time.

It is necessary to continue to promote agricultural restructuring associated with transforming the growth model towards a circular economy and adapting to climate change, improving productivity, quality of agricultural products and production and business efficiency; striving to achieve the highest growth target of the year.

Regarding mechanisms and policies, organize a comprehensive review of the system of mechanisms and policies (especially policies on land, investment, finance, insurance, credit, trade, etc.) to promptly adjust and supplement in order to soon institutionalize policies and guidelines on agricultural, farmer and rural development according to the Resolution of the 13th National Congress and new directives.

Synchronously and effectively implement laws, strategies, programs, projects, and plans for the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors; effectively organize the implementation of the 2021-2025 Sector Restructuring Plan according to Decision 255/QD-TTg dated February 25, 2021.

According to Deputy Minister Tien, agriculture needs to be associated with transforming the growth model towards a circular economy and adapting to climate change.

Regarding investment resources and support, it is necessary to attract and unblock resources for the agricultural sector. Accelerate the implementation and disbursement of public investment capital; review and summarize reports on adjusting the public investment plan for 2021; strive to disburse 100% of domestic capital and 90% of foreign capital in 2021.

Complete the development and implementation of the 2021-2025 medium-term public investment plan immediately after it is approved by the National Assembly and the Government. In addition, strengthen the attraction and mobilization of investment resources from society, enterprises, agriculture and rural areas; encourage FDI investment and investment in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).

- With the experience of supporting lychee consumption in the past time, what lessons can we learn for the consumption of agricultural products nationwide, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic?

- To maintain both domestic and export consumption, limit the backlog of agricultural products in the country in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially seasonal fruit products in the harvest season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed provinces and cities to proactively remove difficulties, promote consumption and transportation of agricultural products in localities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, the key task is to solve technical difficulties, facilitate customs clearance, and prevent the backlog of goods in border provinces with China and key export markets.

Organize a working group to inspect the circulation and consumption of goods, especially fruits, at the border gates of Lao Cai and Lang Son provinces to survey the reality at the border gates and the transit situation of fruit exports in the province, especially seasonal fruits that are in harvest season such as lychee, longan, mango, plum, banana, etc.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to organize a national online conference to promptly review and grasp difficulties and obstacles in terms of technology, food safety, and animal and plant quarantine in the export of local agricultural products in the face of the current impact of the Covid-19 epidemic. Thereby, it is agreed to propose the rapid implementation of solutions and timely solutions: typically negotiating with China to allow temporary export of sweet potatoes and chili peppers to the Chinese market.

At the same time, it is recommended that the Government assign the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish an interdisciplinary working group to strengthen inspection, promptly advise on removing difficulties for localities and enterprises, and promote the consumption of agricultural products.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade strengthens State management of trade, market management, circulation, and supply of goods; coordinates with the Vietnam Logistics Service Enterprises Association to review the overall storage and preservation capacity of the cold storage and container systems to serve the needs of agricultural product exporting enterprises.

The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance have policies to support air and sea freight fees and charges for key markets such as the US, Europe, and the Middle East to increase competitiveness and reduce costs for businesses.

Coordinate and accompany localities to connect consumption and find solutions to promote agricultural product consumption during the harvest season; propose the association of retailers and a number of large corporations and distribution enterprises in Vietnam to coordinate to remove difficulties and accompany localities facing difficulties in agricultural product consumption during the harvest season due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On this basis, localities replicate the model and deploy it for agricultural products with large output and seasons suitable to the production situation in the province.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to direct localities to proactively organize agricultural production, focusing on processing and preservation to flexibly adapt to the epidemic context. Specifically, carefully review the organization of agricultural production, scale, and output for crops and livestock, especially seasonal agricultural products.

Agricultural processing factories increase capacity to focus on the segments of dry goods, pre-processed products, frozen products, concentrated fruit juices, canned fruit juices, processed canned seafood, rice, processed poultry, etc. to best prepare for the post-Covid-19 pandemic plan for the Chinese, EU, and US markets.

Coordinate with ministries and branches to develop a propaganda plan for key agricultural products and local specialties according to the season, support the consumption of Vietnamese agricultural products on e-commerce platforms, online in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; develop and expand forms of production and consumption linkage to help stabilize prices and output for farmers, focusing on promoting domestic consumption.

- Thank you, Deputy Minister!

According to NovaGroup.vn