Reporter (Reporter): How does the Deputy Minister evaluate the results of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports in the first 5 months of 2023?
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien: It must be affirmed that the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products has made positive changes. This is represented by numbers. Right from January 1, compared to 2023, it decreased by over 2022%. Of course, in January, we only have a very short working time, but in the second month it also decreased by 68% and in the third month, it decreased by almost 1%; the fourth month decreased by 38,4% and the end of May only decreased by 30%. The export figure of agricultural, forestry and fishery products that we have achieved is 13,3 billion USD.
If following this momentum, we expect that by the end of the third quarter, the export result of agricultural, forestry and fishery products may be equal to 2022, and in the fourth quarter, if we continue to promote with many different solutions, we will reach the finish line of 55 billion VND. USD on export of agricultural products.
Reporter: In the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, there are a number of key products such as: shrimp, pangasius, wood and wood products, etc. How does the Deputy Minister evaluate the prospect of accelerating these commodities from now to now? end of the year?
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien: We have reviewed 5 months and evaluated through markets, through export objects, showing that wood and non-timber forest products have a slow recovery rate, and seafood is also slow. However, including items such as rice, which increased by 49%, so far, we have exported 3,9 million tons with a value of 2,02 billion USD. Our vegetables and fruits also reached 1,97 billion USD, up 39%, coffee increased by more than 2%, etc. Thus, these are products with fast growth rate, large market demand, therefore, we We need to focus on these industries.
What about forestry and fishery products, we have to expand the market. In this year's market structure, there has been a huge change. That's the US market, accounting for 2022% in 26,4, but now only more than 20%; The Chinese market, when affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, accounted for only 17,6%, so far it has been more than 21%. Such is the market volatility already, so we have to conduct market trade promotion.
In recent times and in the future, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has assigned leaders to focus on markets, for example, China, Europe, Japan, America, etc. to promote traditional markets. system, potential with products in which we have an advantage.
As I said, try our best, so that by the end of the third quarter, in terms of agricultural, forestry and fishery exports, we can reach the level of 2022, and by the fourth quarter, we will accelerate, to reach the goal with the target of 55 billion USD.
Reporter: Regarding rice exports, we set a target of decreasing output but increasing export value. How does the Deputy Minister evaluate this new strategy and what is expected of the growth of this industry?
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien: As we all know, the cultivated area for rice is 7,23 million hectares. Regarding rice varieties, we have 85% new high quality rice varieties. That's why our rice price is now above Thailand's rice price, from 485-495 USD/ton. That said, we've gone into quality. Rice research projects have met the requirements for ecological regions, for example in the Mekong Delta, South Central, North Central, Red River Delta, Northern mountainous areas, varieties High-yield, high-quality rice is almost completely covered.
However, before the requirements of the market, extensive integration requires research to select and create new varieties with high yield, low cost, good competitiveness, thereby, bringing high efficiency to the rice industry. rice. This year we also have to affirm that rice productivity, although the area is reduced, the output has increased. Our rice production has reached 17,46 million tons, yield 67,4 quintals/ha.
Reporter: Xin The Deputy Minister said, from now until the end of the year, what solutions will the agriculture and rural development sector implement to remove the common difficulties of the agricultural sector?
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien: Before the difficulties of the world economy, of the whole economy, aggregate demand decreased greatly. We know that many industries and fields do not have orders, workers, workers only work a few hours a month, affecting the income of workers. It is this effect that the demand for living and consumption decreases.
While input prices have increased dramatically, epidemics, climate change, inflation, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drought is expected to continue to clearly affect agricultural production. But, once the difficulties and challenges have been identified, as well as advantages and potentials assessed, the industry will offer flexible response solutions.
For example, rice yield is largely determined by the last 25 days before harvest. If you do not know the situation, do not know how to direct to sowing in time, the rice yield cannot be high.
Although vegetables and fruits are short-lived, we must know how to handle them, even new varieties. Once researched, selected and evaluated, immediately resolved to put into production. The speed of science and technology of the world "runs" very fast, so we have to take advantage of all the varieties, cultivation processes, care, nurture, preliminary processing, processing ... to become a closed chain, to improve competitiveness and overcome difficulties and challenges.
Besides, about the investment environment for agriculture, how to attract businesses to agriculture, including the fields of animal husbandry, fisheries, and cultivation. Together with the provinces promoting investment, bringing large-scale enterprises into production, followed by farms and farmers, focusing on production in chains and associated with the market, etc.
Reporter: Thank you very much, Minister!. /.
