Impressive agricultural growth

Thanh Hoa's agricultural sector has just overcome a turbulent year, achieving a growth rate of 4.17%, making a significant contribution to the province's gross regional product (GRDP) growth rate of 12.16% in 2024.

Farmers in Thieu Vu commune (Thieu Hoa district) are harvesting their 2024 rice crop.

Looking back at the 2024 crop season, when the main crops were preparing for their peak harvest, in September, typhoons No. 3 and No. 4 struck consecutively. Although the typhoons did not make landfall in Thanh Hoa province, heavy rains from the post-typhoon circulation caused damage to nearly 3,322 hectares of rice, nearly 5,977 hectares of various vegetables and annual crops... According to Mr. Vu Quang Trung, Head of the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection: “To promptly overcome the impacts of the storms and floods and protect the 2024 crop season from adverse weather conditions, the agricultural sector actively coordinated with localities to mobilize maximum manpower and machinery to thoroughly harvest the rice crop that was 80% or more ripe and other crops that were ready for harvest. With the implementation of timely solutions, the rice crop still achieved an average yield of 56 quintals/hectare.”

In 2024, the agricultural sector overcame difficulties, with localities focusing on developing and maintaining over 80,000 hectares of production linkage models associated with product consumption guarantees. The entire province maintained and developed intensive farming areas and concentrated production zones that yielded high efficiency and value, such as: 150,000 hectares of high-yield, high-quality intensive rice; 20,000 hectares of intensive corn; 12,000 hectares of intensive sugarcane; 14,000 hectares of safe vegetables; 420 hectares of high-tech ornamental plants and flowers; 14,500 hectares of concentrated fruit trees; and 18,500 hectares of fodder crops... Plant protection work was closely monitored regarding weather and pest and disease developments; forecasting, prediction, and pest and disease control services were ensured to be timely, effective, and safe. As a result, the value of agricultural products obtained per hectare of cultivated land in 2024 is estimated to reach 125 million VND, an increase of 5 million VND/ha compared to 2023.

In livestock farming, the province maintains a herd of 156,000 buffaloes, 258,000 cattle, 1.35 million pigs, and 27.2 million poultry. Disease prevention and control measures have been implemented decisively by the agricultural sector and local authorities, with timely guidance and effective control, preventing any dangerous outbreaks in livestock and poultry. The province has also seen the completion and operation of three modern livestock projects with a scale of 2.4 million sows and 138,000 fattening pigs per year: the high-quality pig farm of Asean International Investment Joint Stock Company; the industrial livestock farm of Lam Son Nhu Xuan Joint Stock Company; and the high-tech closed-loop pig farm and plant breeding production facility of G8 Company.

Attracting businesses, organizations, and individuals with potential to invest in agricultural production creates the foundation for the "Transformation from agricultural production to agricultural economy " that the province and the agricultural sector are focusing on implementing. In 2024 alone, 155 new businesses were established operating in the agricultural sector. The province currently has 1,484 businesses, 2 cooperative unions, and 783 cooperatives in operation, along with 1,058 farms, 1,286 agricultural cooperative groups, and millions of dynamic producers across the province who are continuing their efforts to develop production and business.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Van Cuong inspects the production situation for the 2024-2025 winter crop.

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2024, the total added value of the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector reached VND 19,787.1 billion, an increase of 4.17% compared to the same period. Total food production reached 1.56 million tons, equivalent to 101.9% of the plan. The entire province converted 1,578.2 hectares of low-economic-efficiency rice land to cultivate crops with higher economic efficiency. Localities in the province consolidated land for large-scale agricultural production, applying high technology, totaling 6,569 hectares, equivalent to 106.2% of the plan. Livestock farming developed steadily, with the production of various types of meat increasing by 6.7% compared to the same period; poultry eggs increased by 8.2%; and fresh milk increased by 16.2%.

Forestry continued to develop sustainably, with the province planting an estimated 12,400 hectares of concentrated forest, reaching 124.5% of the plan; timber production reached 990,500 m3; and the forest cover rate reached an estimated 53.86%, exceeding the plan. The fisheries sector continued to develop comprehensively and synchronously, with total production from fishing and aquaculture reaching 219,702 tons, reaching 103.1% of the plan, an increase of 1.9% compared to the same period. Efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing were carried out regularly. According to Mr. Cao Van Cuong, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: "2025 is the final year of the 2020-2025 term, and it is of special importance for successfully achieving the goals and tasks set forth in the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress. The unstable global economic situation, natural disasters, storms, floods, and climate change remain constant risks... causing many difficulties for the economy in general and the agricultural sector in particular. Anticipating these difficulties, the agricultural sector will continue to restructure towards improving productivity, quality, efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainable development; applying high-tech and smart technologies; and implementing land consolidation to form large-scale, highly efficient specialized agricultural production areas along the value chain from production and processing to product consumption. At the same time, agricultural production will be developed in conjunction with the development of trade, services, tourism, and proactively responding to climate change." "This will gradually improve the material and spiritual lives of rural people."

Text and photos: Le Hoi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nong-nghiep-nbsp-tang-truong-an-tuong-235357.htm