Agriculture considers export target of USD 44 billion unfeasible

Agriculture has been impacted particularly hard

On September 13, the Deputy Minister of MARD stated during a virtual conference on promoting agricultural circulation and consumption during Covid-19 prevention and combat that the complex development of Covid-19 in almost all Southern cities and provinces has hammered agricultural production, harvest, circulation, and export.

Additionally, the pandemic affects the production chain, resulting in the accumulation of agricultural goods in many regions, resulting in bottlenecks in production, consumption, and exports; and increases the danger of food shortages during the year's last months, including Tet.

Export turnover increased at a favorable pace in the first half of the year, according to MARD. However, since July l, as a result of  Covid-19 outbreaks in many regions, most notably in several critical agricultural provinces in the south.

As a consequence of the pandemic preventive and response efforts, agricultural production, harvesting, processing, and export consumption have been harmed.

Vietnam's export turnover reached USD 32.12 billion between January and August 2021, owing to the efforts and dedication of the Government, ministries, departments, as well as businesses, and organizations. They felt, however, that the USD 44 billion goal for agricultural exports in 2021 poses a significant problem if the pandemic remains.

There would be no food scarcity over the Lunar New Year

Several agricultural processing companies, according to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, are in need of finance to continue operations.

Circulation and shipping of commodities, materials, and products into and out of the production regions continue to be a source of contention in certain districts, communes, and villages.

The implementation of the "three on-sites" motto at some companies, manufacturing, processing, and slaughtering facilities faced many problems, impediments, and incurred significant expenses; many firms are unqualified to fulfill the criteria of this motto.

Factories are having problems because a sizable portion of the agricultural workforce has been forced to return to their hometowns as a result of social distance.

The emergence of F0 cases in manufacturing and processing facilities has caused numerous companies to shut down causing disruptions in supply and demand chains.

Numerous companies continue to have problems moving agricultural supplies and goods into and out of regions where social distancing is enforced. Additionally, the cost of marine freight rose by six to seven times or even ten to thirteen times on certain routes.

Prices of animal feeds, fertilizers, and insecticides, in particular, have been steadily increasing over the last several years. Materials such as animal feed and aquatic goods saw a 16-30 percent rise in price. Electricity, water for manufacturing, cold storage, and storage expenses, among other costs, rose. Meanwhile, some goods were sold for less than 30% of their cost.

The demand for Covid-19 vaccination for employees in manufacturing, processing, harvesting, packing, buying, shipping, and circulation of products is very high, but only around 10% to 15% of the initial dosage can be fulfilled.

Agriculture cooperatives were badly impacted. Historically, 80–90 percent of agricultural cooperatives in areas that have adopted social distancing have experienced income losses. Around half of the cooperative's regular workers have had their salaries slashed or eliminated

To address these obstacles, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh directed local governments to work closely with residents and companies to develop a master plan for agricultural reproduction. Avoid, in particular, a condition of food scarcity during the Lunar New Year.

 Clearance at border gates, eliminating obstacles to fruit

As other countries' and China's technological obstacles regarding standards, quarantine, cleanliness, and safety regulations continue to rise.

A variety of new Chinese agricultural product import restrictions, which take effect on January 1, 2022, may have an effect on the production and consumption of agricultural goods in Vietnam.

According Lang Son mayor Ho Tien Thieu, just four of the city's twelve border gates are presently operational and have started to experience congestion as the amount of products continues to grow, putting a strain on the local economy.

Thieu recommended that provinces and towns with agricultural products passing through Lang Son's border gates inform companies in advance to reorganize commodities in order to prevent congestion. The provinces have finished immunization of agricultural product transporters to guarantee safe circulation and protection against diseases in Lang Son province.

According to the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, deliveries of fresh fruit goods from Vietnam, including dragon fruit, continue as usual at the Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces' border gates, except for Lao Cai. The province recommended to the authorities to strengthen exchanges with Yunnan province, China to facilitate the re-clearance of fresh fruit products through the provincial border gate.

Lai Chau province suggested to the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation between Vietnam and China strengthening talks with China's responsible authority for the Kim Thuy Ha border gate in Yunnan province, allowing China to import fresh fruits, vegetables, food, and seafood from Vietnam.