Strictly regulate pork, curbing inflation

Increasing export volume and value

During a news conference on August 1, 2022, MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien highlighted the industry's focal points for the first seven months of 2022. He emphasized the industry's export value, which reached USD 32.29 billion, up 12.2 percent year on year, and its trade surplus, which reached USD 6.28 billion, up 198 percent.

In addition to maintaining economic momentum, the Deputy Minister informed the positive outcome of the market structure. The yearly agroforestry-fisheries export volume to China accounted for 23 percent, compared to 18 percent for the first seven months of this year.

"The agricultural industry's export volume and value climbed. It indicates that the industrial restructuring has been deepened. The agricultural products' quality has been improved in proportion to their output and yield. The socioeconomic and income of farmers have been assured "said the leader.

The livestock production sector exemplifies the resilience of the industry. From January to July, the national pig herd expanded by 4.8%, the poultry herd by 1.6%, and the cow herd by 2.6%. The buffalo herd only decreased by 1.1%, a minor decrease compared to the prior yearly pace of around 2.4%.

With a contribution to the whole industry's GDP of over 25 percent, the agriculture sector leader is confident about the livestock sector's 2022 goal.

The release of ASF vaccination provides a further boost for the livestock industry. Farmers and small farming households would immediately profit from this "biosecurity shield," which will also expedite the national re-herding of pigs to surpass 51 million slaughtered pigs by 2021.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien recommended that "agencies" enhance collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in monitoring, inspecting, and swiftly reflecting on the present situation and identifying existing obstacles in the agricultural sector.

Increase border monitoring of pork

Besides good conditions, the livestock production industry faces several challenges, such as the dozens-of-percentage-point increase in pork prices in China at the start of July.

MARD despatched a border inspection team to prevent illegal slaughtering and transportation of port parts across the border. The ministry also attributed the rising pork prices in the Chinese domestic market has been the result of accumulation and overfeeding as well as unofficial information blown up by the media. 

China, the world's top pork producer, is relatively self-sufficient in pork, with 95 percent of its supply coming from local farms. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that the risk of inflation in this nation as a result of rising pig prices is very minimal while cautioning citizens to pay attention to official information from management authorities.

The problem of livestock feed was also attached high importance by the MARD leader. Under the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the agricultural sector has determined that to build an independent and self-reliant economy, it is necessary to develop a broad point of view, particularly in light of the 30-40 percent increase in the price of animal feed between the end of 2021 and recently. 

Due to geographical and natural factors, Vietnam's maize production is much lower than that of the United States and Brazil, for example. Vietnam, on the other hand, has an edge in rice and agricultural products. The head of the MARD proposed two strategies, including modifying ineffective agricultural land for the production of animal feed crops, such as cassava, maize, and closed farming models in the region. Increasing the quality and value of rice, particularly specialty rice plants and farm products, is the second objective.

From the receipt of foreign currency from the export of these commodities, the agricultural sector will adjust to having a proper policy in importing corn and animal feed.

With an open economy, the country's agricultural goods are qualified and up to par for export to a wide variety of countries. Thanks to the advantages of new-generation free trade agreements, Vietnam's agricultural goods can grow their market share by eliminating several tariff obstacles. In exchange, we will encounter problems posed by technical obstacles, climate change, and the rising velocity of a variety of input materials.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien concluded: "We are transitioning from an agricultural production economy to an agricultural economy. To enter more deeply and broadly into the global supply chain, farmers, cooperatives, businesses, and commodity chains must adapt to market signals while accelerating and promoting production according to the model of circular economy, high-tech agriculture, and value enhancement ".

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that China has authorized and facilitated the official export of a variety of goods, including passion fruit and durian, to the market. Shortly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to accelerate negotiations to bring more bird's nest products into the 1,400,000-person nation.

The leader of the agricultural industry has assessed that our nation possesses several favorable elements for promoting the production of this commodity, including an ample supply, an extensive network of processing facilities, and a high level of technical standards.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has worked with China. The results are now quite good. We are committed to doing our best to export official bird's nests to the country," stressed the Deputy Minister.