Agro-forestry-fishery exports target US$35 billion next year
The agricultural sector will aim for a GDP growth rate of between 3 – 3.1% and total export value of agro-forestry-fisheries at US$34 – 35 billion in 2018.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong recently ordered his ministry’s subordinate agencies and localities to step up making development plans for the sector and each field in 2018 towards achieving the overall goals.
Other targets for 2018 include an increase of 3.3 – 3.5% in production value of the whole agricultural sector, a forest coverage of 41.6%, and 37% of all communes recognised as new-style rural areas.
Regarding crop cultivation, the minister told the agencies and localities to seek ways to reach a production value growth rate of 2.5 – 3% and export revenue of at least US$16 billion.
Meanwhile, animal husbandry and fisheries should try to expand the production values by 4 – 5% and 6%, respectively, next year. The overseas shipments of aquatic products are expected to earn some US$7.5 billion.
The sector plans to increase the forestry production value by 5.5 – 6% and bring home US$7.5 – 7.7 billion from the export of forestry products.
In the first half of 2017, Vietnam earned US$17.1 billion from shipping agro-forestry-fishery products abroad, up 13.1% year on year. The figure was US$32.1 billion in 2016, according to the ministry.