Topic: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Significant public concern exists about the illegal importation of buffalos and cattle fed banned substances to help with weight gain.

The “Synchronized mechanization towards sustainable agriculture” conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in cooperation with the German Agricultural Society (DLG) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) heard from analysts that the domestic production of machinery for agricultural production is yet to meet requirements and has only been concentrated in a few stages and on key products. Mechanization is also not suitable for many crops.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Working Groups were established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2010 and were institutionalized into the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV) by 2015. This has contributed to restructuring the agricultural economy, creating 500,000 jobs and improving farmer skills. However, PSAV activities still face many difficulties due to a lack of legal regulations and risks from natural disasters, epidemics, and market fluctuations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has suggested that it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in the conservation and sustainable development of national parks. At the same time, national park management need to be creative in attracting visitors, combining tourism and environmental education. The General Department of Forestry is now completing a project on developing eco-tourism, resorts, and entertainment at national parks in the 2021-2030 period.

Despite facing a host of difficulties, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reported that Vietnam’s agricultural sector has recorded a trade surplus of around $6.3 billion so far this year. Total trade turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in the first seven months is estimated at some $58.3 billion, with exports at $32.3 billion and imports $26 billion.

At the “Opening micro-credit for small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives to serve the production, processing and consumption of agricultural products” forum held on July 28 by the Agricultural Product Connection Management Team 970 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, participants said capital was a concern for cooperatives but they have difficulties accessing loans.

Vietnam exported 3.5 million tons of rice worth $1.7 billion in the first half of 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, up 16.2 per cent in volume and 4.6 per cent in value over the same period of 2021. Growth came from high demand in markets such as China, Bangladesh, Iran, and Sri Lanka.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, thanks to replanting efforts, Vietnam’s coffee yield now stands at 2.8 tons per ha, or three times higher than the world average. The Ministry has set a target of the country replanting 75,000 ha and grafting 32,000 ha of coffee from now to 2025. Coffee productivity after replanting and grafting is expected to reach 3.5 tons per ha and boost incomes by 1.5 to 2-times compared to before replanting.

Vietnam’s fishing fleet currently stands at nearly 92,000 vessels, 40-55 per cent of which have been unable to head out to sea recently due to rising gasoline prices. To address the situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to propose that the government introduce a policy to support fishing crews that are temporarily out of work.

Central Quang Nam province has asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to seek permission from the Prime Minister to change the land use purpose of more than 25 hectares of natural forest to build a road to a Ngoc Linh ginseng development area in Nam Tra My district. The road is part of a project on the conservation and development of Ngoc Linh ginseng to 2030, approved by the government in 2015.