PM works with agricultural managers
VGP – PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a video conference which summed up the operation of the agricultural and rural development sector in 2017 and worked out tasks for 2018 on January 4 in Ha Noi.
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the video conference of the agricultural sector, Ha Noi, January 14, 2017 – Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu |
The event drew the attendance of ministerial and local leaders nationwide, businesses, and associations in agricultural production.
Addressing the event, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that in 2017, PM Phuc attended 17 conferences with a view to extricating difficulties to support the sector to accomplish the preset goals.
Difficult lessons for agricultural production
Minister Cuong reported that in 2017, the sector attained seven outstanding achievements including over US$ 36 billion of export turnover, the highest rate so far.
However, the sector coped with five shortcomings especially the
In 2018, the sector targets to post a growth pace of 2.8-3% and earned US$ 37-38 billion of export turnover.
Addressing the event, PM Phuc said that last year, he partook in five large-scale conferences on vegetables, organic farming, high-quality paddy cultivation, medicine development, shrimp production, and Mekong Delta region development. He praised the sector for direct talks to tackle shortcomings.
The PM stressed that the Party and State always attach importance to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. He also highlighted the role and position of agricultural productions for socio-economic development. Last year, the agricultural sector made up 0.44 percentage point to the national GDP growth rate. For the first time, overseas shipment of vegetables and fruits outstripped paddy and crude oil. The sector also enjoyed a trade surplus of US$ 8.55 billion. Up to ten commodities entered the US$ 1 billion export turnover club. The sector also made positive contributions to amending negative impacts of natural disasters.
However, PM Phuc recommended the sector to focus on shortcomings including the weak restructuring of the agricultural sector, violations in the agro-forestry-fishery sector, low labour productivity. Especially, agriculture accounts for only 16% of GDP but requires 42% of the labour force. About 70% of people still live in rural areas.
These are hard lessons for all sectors and levels, he added.
In addition, living standards of farmers especially in remote, far-reaching, ethnic minority areas remained modest.
The number of agricultural businesses makes up only 1% of total businesses.
Higher preset goal
PM Phuc stressed that in 2018, the sector must eye a 3% growth rate and earn about US$ 40 billion in export turnover. These preset goals are higher than those mentioned in the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
To fulfill the goals in 2018, PM Phuc tasked the sector to seriously grasp Resolution 01; compose specific norms; pay attention to public concerns of peasants; improve management; and ensure environmental protection.
The Government chief noticed the importance of high-tech farming, clean and smart agriculture; cut transport fees; develop logistics; improve the investment environment; and take care of Lunar New Year Festival for farmers./.
By Kim Anh
