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New Roads Open for Vietnamese Key Sectors (02/02)
02/02/2012 - 13 Lượt xem
Another bumper harvest
The
year 2011 closed with a "sweet victory" for the Vietnam's
agro-forestry-fishery sectors as export revenues totaled nearly US$25
billion, an increase of 25 percent compared with 2010. The four sectors with export revenues of more than US$3 billion included seafood products of US$6.1 billion, forestry products of US$4.1 billion, rice of US$3.7 billion and coffee of US$2.7 billion.
In terms of farming, the sector saw close cooperation in implementing strategies relating to seasonal crops, breed varieties, intensive farming methods as well as strict control and prevention against natural disasters and epidemics, contributing to producing another bumper harvest. Rice output in 2011 registered 42.3 million tonnes, an increased of 4.4 percent in quantity and 14 percent in value compared with 2010, helping not only to guarantee food for domestic consumption but also saved 7.2 million tonnes for export, worth US$3.7 billion.
The
year 2011 was also a favorable year for fisheries sector with high
yields and good prices. Fishery outputs for the whole year hit 2.93
million tonnes, an increase of 7.4 percent compared with 2010, of which Tra fish were estimated to reach more than 1.13 million tonnes (farmed over an area of 5,571.6ha), fresh water prawn of more than 435,000 tonnes (658,000ha) and scampi prawn of more than 13,000 tonnes (8,500ha). Most of the black tiger shrimp farming areas are currently applying the improved-extensive farming type, concentrating in the Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Long An and Tien Giang; Tra fish farming areas are concentrated in provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Hau Giang and Tra Vinh. These farming areas play an important part in the production value of the sector and ensure diversified material sources for export.
In 2011, the volatility in the US and EU seafood market had a negative impact on Tra fish breeding and production in the Mekong Delta region. There were fluctuations in Tra fish prices in the first half of 2011 with prices varying from VND18,000 per kg to VND24,000 per kg, causing great concerns
to farmers. By the end of October, however, the prices increased to
VND24,000 to VND28,500 per kg and presently stand at about VND45,000
per kg, bringing high profits to growers and help to expand the water
surface area for breeding Tra fish breeds.
In 2011, total fishery outputs in 2011 were estimated at 2.527 million tonnes, an increase of 4.6 percent compared with 2010, of which output from sea exploitation amounted to 2.333 million tonnes. Despite the differences in the input materials, prices of main products such as tuna, squid and shrimp were stable.
Fishing operations in 28 coastal provinces recently received great support from the Prime Ministerial Resolution 48/2010/QD-TTg. Under this Resolution,
fishermen and fishing boats and ships were financially aided to buy
floating rafts and fish breed when rearing aquaculture in the Spratly
Islands. Therefore, fisheries exploitation activities in those regions were so active and efficient, helping to stable fishing community lives.
Link chains to increase value of products
Despite
remarkable achievements, administrators in the agriculture sector are
seeing slower growth in the added value in agro-forestry-fishery
exports. Consequently, they always think of solutions
to increase the value of the products to bring higher incomes. To do
this, the agriculture sector needs to enhance investment in post-catch
preservation and processing. In the long
term, the State needs to issue comprehensive policies in the aspects of
management, technology and capital sources to provide support for
potential sectors, particularly in fishery, animal husbandry, forestry
and farming.
As for fishery sector, apart from Tra and Basa fish Vietnam should pay more attention to
shrimp and tuna in terms of epidemic management, higher output and
quality. Notably, even though Tra and Basa fish output could possibly
double, the long-term scheme is to increase the number of products which involve processed technologies and find consumer markets to increase the product's value.
According to expert assessments, the bright spot and orientation of
the fishery sector in 2012 is still sustainable development and the
increase of added value through the restructuring of production, focusing mainly on highly competitive and efficient species. In addition, the sector will strive to create favorable mechanisms to attract FDI and social investment and find both urgent and long-term solutions to difficulties in fishing operations.
The
fishery sector has raised proposals to the Ministry of Fisheries and
the Government to approve the project "Reorganize the exploitation of Tuna in the orientation of
modern industry". Several joint-ventures with Japan have also been
established and reorganized to form main forces in catching tuna.
In the area of agricultural products, a remarkable issue was the "Four sides" relation model
including scientists, businessmen, managers and farmers which was
judged to have brought certain initial success. However, this relation seemed unclear and difficult to identify "who" was more important and decisive in the distribution chain. Therefore, in the coming time, the relation will focus on the value chain connection which attaches enterprise's responsibilities with farmers in order to stabilize market prices and take control
of the quality and epidemic hygiene of products. The agriculture sector
is currently directing to pilot some models in some provinces and it
also plans to encourage enterprises and farmers to participate more
deeply into the chain by issuance of favorable mechanisms and policies.
Investors and enterprises are also realizing agriculture as a potential
sector which will bring rapid profits. This is a necessary and
important basis to proceed with the restructuring of the sector in the
coming time.
To a certain extent, social investment for agriculture in Vietnam is not lower compared with other regional countries. However, the low starting point of Vietnamese economy
resulted in late and low investment in the sector, which remains at an
early stage. Therefore, in the coming time, agriculture sector needs to
mobilize farmer's powers and issue policies to attract more investment
in rural areas.
According to expert analysis, agricultural product prices have been on the rise for the last three years and this trend is expected to continue for the next 30 years. This is the premise which creates a "luring force" of the sector to investors. Consequently, the agriculture sector has established five special working groups focused on implementing the Public-private partnership (PPP) model to attract more investment.
The agriculture sector has made great achievements for Vietnam's economic
development. As for the farmers, the most difficult and challenging
times seem to be over and the road ahead is opening up a big
opportunities. With hard working spirit, creativity and market
awareness, Vietnamese farmers will be the first ones who grasp the opportunities and open new roads for the Vietnamese agriculture sector to boom in the coming period./.
Source: VEN
Source: VEN
