Assigning2018 tasks to the sector, the PM requested stronger and more drastictransformation by developing large-scale farming, using modern technology toimprove output and competitiveness, and stepping up new rural development.
Hehailed the sector for surpassing 2017’s targets with a 2.94 percent growth,more than doubling that of 2016, contributing 0.44 percent to the country’seconomic growth. The import of fruits, vegetables and wooden furniture reduced whilehi-tech agriculture reaped initial successes.
Theleader said more and more firms get involved in farming and many of them havesucceeded.
Healso asked for strong directions to deal with violations in agriculture, forestryand fisheries as well as deforestation, and pool resources for ruraldevelopment, given that a number of fishermen and those living in remote andmountainous areas are facing difficulties in wake of the recent floods.
Infood hygiene and safety, farmers were urged to set examples to protectthemselves and consumers.
Abouttargets for 2018, he said the agricultural sector should set to grow by 2.25percent while forestry and fisheries will expand by 6.5 percent and 5 percent,respectively. The sector’s export earnings will near 40 billion USD, and 52districts and 37 percent of communes will become new-style rural areas.
Theministry and localities must immediately follow the Party and NationalAssembly’s resolutions and the government’s Resolution No.1 under the motto ofDiscipline, Integrity, Action, Creativity, Effectiveness, he said.
Statisticsfrom the ministry showed that nearly 2,000 newly-established firms operated inagro-forestry-fisheries in 2017, up 3.8 percent annually, raising the total inthe sector to 5,600.
Alsoin 2017, the sector brought home 36.37 billion USD from agro-forestry-fisheriesexport, 4 billion USD higher than last year’s same period. Trade surplus hit8.55 billion USD, up 1 billion USD year on year.
Exportof aquatic products hit an all-time high of 8.4 billion USD while wood andforestry shipments hit 8 billion USD. In particular, fruits and vegetablesexport surged 40.5 percent to 3.45 billion USD, or 2.6 billion USD higher thanrice export value.
Asmany as 2,884 communes were recognised as new-style rural areas, equivalent to32.3 percent, higher than the target of 31 percent. -VNA