Hanoi (VNA) – The gross domesticproduct (GDP) of agriculture, forestry and fishery is estimated to expand from 3.95percent to 4.05 percent in the first six months of 2018, the highest level in10 recent years.

The production value of agro-forestry-fishery isexpected to increase by 4.2 percent, of which cultivation will record ayear-on-year rise of 4.12 percent, animal husbandry 2.04 percent, forestry 5.21percent and aquaculture 6.49 percent.

Speaking at a conference of the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi on June 28, Minister Nguyen XuanCuong recognised the sector’s proactive implementation of measures to achieveset targets for the January-June period.

In cultivation, 32,800 hectares of ineffectiverice land has been shifted for vegetables, fruit trees and perennial industrialtrees with high economic efficiency while the use of high-quality varieties hasbeen increased along with the expansion of large-scale fields of rice and othercrops and the promotion of production according to Vietnamese Good AgriculturalPractices.

Livestock production is generally favourablewith stable prices of beef and poultry products. Some livestock products havebeen exported to markets with high requirements for quality and control of foodhygiene and safety.

The favourable weather conditions make it easierfor fishing activities. Added to that, ministries and localities have activelyimplemented policies to support production and continue compensating damages,stabilising lives and resuming production for people in four central provincesaffected by the marine environmental incident in 2016.

Aquaculture production was estimated at 1.79million tonnes, up 6.2 percent over the same period last year with high growthin brackish water shrimp and tra fish.

The restructuring of the forestry sector isquite significant with the operation of high value forestry production modelsand large-scale timber trade ones. Particularly, the production and processingof forestry products for exports have seen strong development while thedomestic wood market has been thriving.

As of June 25, the country had 3,370 communes(37.76 percent) recognised as new rural areas. The ratio is expected toincrease to 40 percent at the end of this year. 

Head of the Department of Planning under theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Viet said theagricultural production outcomes in the first six months of the year illustratesan optimistic economic panoramic, which will create a momentum for growth inthe last remaining months. 

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)forecast that the global rice trade will continue growing along with the surgeof tropical fruits and high demand for aquatic products. 

Therefore, the country’s export of farm produce is likely to maintain highergrowth than the first six months (over 12 percent) and the yearly export targetis projected to reach 40-41 billion USD. 

The country could harvest 43.9 million tonnes of rice, up at least 1.2 milliontonnes compared to 2017, if the weather is favourable. 

It is expected to rake in over 5.5 billion USD from selling abroad tea, coffee,rubber, pepper and cashew nuts in 2018 and 4.5-4.7 billion USD from vegetablesand fruits. 

Minister Cuong said in 2018, the Government has assigned ministries to ensurehigh growth targets in the context of challenges posed by climate change,fiercer global competitiveness, trade protection barriers from countries, andrisks of diseases. 

Thereby, ministries need to follow growth scenarios and targets of theGovernment’s Resolution No.1/NQ-CP on key tasks and solutions to realisingsocio-economic development plans and State budget estimate 2018.-VNA