Report of Department of Agricultural Economy – Ministry of Planning and Investment in 24 February 2012.
1.Agriculture
Cultivation
In February 2012, the localities concentrated on sowing, care of winter-spring crops nationwide.
Rice: As of mid February, the country has planted 2401.8 thousand ha of winter-spring, equaling93.1% over last year’s same period, in which the North provinces sowed 514.7 thousand ha,equaling 76.4%; the Southern provinces planted 1887.1 thousand ha, equaling 99%.
Progress of winter-spring rice cultivation in Red River Delta provinces and midland was slower than the same period last year, mainly due to seasonal calendar. Besides the lasting deep cold weather from the last of January made area of rice seeds grown more slowly, in addition some died rice seeds had to be additionally sown, causing delay in sowing progress. Currently because of the warming weather, favorable for the cultivation, the provinces are directing to accelerate progress in the spring cultivation in the best time; newly transplanted rice area has quite well developed with enough water. The North Central provinces has also transplanted dead rice areas.
The Southern provinces finished the winter-spring rice cultivation, in which in the Mekong Delta provinces, rice of the main crop is in the ear for flowering, this is also the period of strong development of pests. There has been 105.9 thousand ha of winter-spring infected, mainly BPH, rice blast disease and rice leaf folder insect. Some provinces which have plenty of rice area infected were: An Giang with 54.5 thousand ha, Kien Giang with 15.8 thousand hectares, Bac Lieu with 17.5 thousand hectares. Localities are actively implementing measures to prevent and fight disease in order to limit the spread affecting production results. About 211.9 thousand ha of early winter- spring also started harvesting, equaling 57.7% over last year’s same period.
Planting progress of some crops is also slower than the same period last year. As of mid February, localities across the country have planted 256.1 thousand ha of maize, equivalent to 94.7% over the same period last year; 65.7 thousand ha of sweet potato, equaling 95.2%; 65,2 thousand hectares of soybean, equaling 68.5%; 65 thousand ha of peanut, equaling 63.9%; 354 thousand ha of vegetables, equaling 102.2%.
Livestock
Breeding cattles is heavily influenced by the lasting cold weather. According to the functional departments, as of 10/02/2012, long lasting cold period made nearly 1,500 animals dead, mostly buffaloes and calves but the number of cattle died of hunger and cold was much less compared to the same period last year (the North had nearly 80,000 cattle died of malaria in this period last year). Besides, the deeply cold and humid weather also caused a number of diseases as fowl cholera, foot and mouth disease. Due to the decrease of the number of cattle from late 2011 plus the slaughter during the Lunar New Year and death by cold, the herd of buffalos, cows nationwide was estimated to decrease 7% over the same period last year.
Pig production was relatively stable, no diseases. Some provinces are implementing the model of super-lean pig breeding. Feed prices are showing signs of reduction due to prices of raw materials such as wheat bran, corn, cake, fresh beans ... was low from late 2011. This is an important factor in helping farmers feel secure and stabilize production. Pigs was estimated to increase 3-4% over the same period.
2. Forestry
The localities are actively sowing, caring for seedlings, cleaning, preparing the field for Spring forestation 2012 and deploying Tree Plantation Festival on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2012.
Due to weather conditions and different planting seasons, the Central and Southern provinces have just finished planting of 2011, now are checking up the new plantations and sowing seedlings for planting in 2012; Northern provinces have implemented spring cultivation. During the Lunar New Year, localities across the country have launched the New Year Tree Plantation Festival “eternal gratitude to Uncle Ho”.
Synthesis results of a number of key indicators estimated in February reached as follows: concentrated forest area was estimated at 1,150 ha (mainly in the midland and northern mountainous areas), increased 15% over same period in 2011; scattered forest trees was estimated at 30.2 million trees, up 3.7%; timber reached 257 thousand m3, up 10.3%; firewood exploitation reached 2,477 thousand ste, up 1,5%.
In the first two months of the year: concentrated plantation was estimated at 1,150 hectares, up 15% over the same period; scattered forest trees was estimated at 30.7 million trees, up 3.1% (some provinces have pretty high results of scattered plantation such as: Quang Binh 1,490 thousand trees, Thanh Hoa 1,328 thousand trees, Thua Thien - Hue 1,132 thousand trees ...); timber was estimated reaching 593 thousand m3, up 11.2%; firewood extraction was estimated to obtain 4934 thousand ste, up 2.3%.
During the peak months of the dry season, in which most of the localities are dry with high risk of forest fire and which spontaneously is the season for cultivation of farmers, all levels, sectors has promoted propagation of the forest protection and fire prevention; guided farmers to clean cultivation regularly, no free milpa burn. Localities have continued to review and reinforce the fire prevention and fighting groups; while enhancing prevention of violations of forest law. Illegal deforestation for cultivation was still happened in some localities (mainly Northern Mountains, Central Highlands). There were 54 cases of deforestation, destroyed area of 26.6 ha. In the first two months, illegally destroyed forest area for cultivation was 33.9 ha.
3. Fisheries
Aquatic production in February was estimated at 375.1 thousand tons, increased 5.5% compared to the same period last year; in which fish production was 293.3 thousand tons, up 5.8%; shrimp reached 29.4 thousand tons, up 8.1%.
Aquaculture production was estimated reaching 148.4 thousand tons, rose 3.8% over the same period last year, in which fish was 116 thousand tons, up 3.6%; shrimp reached 18.2 thousand tons, up 10,3%.
After Tet Holiday, the business has been pushing material procurement for the export. Currently catfish price in the Mekong River Delta is vibrating at a high level (from 26,000 - 27,000 VND / kg), farmers have interest. However, many households have no fish to sell because most of the fish still has been small which has not met standard. Fish material prices raised, but farmers had not much interest due to 2-4 month payment method which caused a big additional cost as bank interest. Fish material shortages will likely happen in the future.
Shrimp harvest was quite good in the area of improved extensive farming or a combination of mangroves thinning drop compensation. Some provinces are: Ca Mau harvested 8,500 tones, an increase of 13.3% over the same period last year, Bac Lieu 3,100 tons, up 7.5%; Kien Giang 3,400 tons, up 27.8%.
The sea weather was relatively favorable for fishing, especially offshore fishing. An increase in tuna prices has encouraged fishermen to put to sea more earlier, many fishermen clinging on sea in the Lunar New Year. Exploitation production was estimated at 226.7 thousand tons, up 6.7% over the same period; in which fish was 177.3 thousand tons, up 7.3%; shrimp was 11.2 thousand tons, up 4.7%.
In the first two months of the year, aquatic production was estimated reaching 739.3 thousand tons, increased 3.9% over the same period last year; in which aquaculture production reached 320.4 thousand tons, up 5.2%, production of aquatic exploitation reached 418.9 thousand tons, increased 2.8%; sea exploitation was 392.2 thousand tons, increased 3%.
4. Domestic agricultural, material market.
4.1. Food:
Export demand which was expected to increase for aromatic rice, high-qualified rice this year was the cause to increase the rice price, specifically: OM 4900 cost 6,700-6,800VND/kg (price of this rice in January was about 6,400VND/kg, up 400VND/kg). Meanwhile the regular rice was reversed, the price tends to decrease, typically IR 50404 (price 5,400-5,600VND/kg), leading a fluctuation in rice price for each respective type but generally price of rice decreased sharply: rice material type 1 making 5% broken rice is about 7,150 - 7,300 VND/kg depending on the localities, rice material making 25% broken rice is 6,900-7,050 VND/kg depending on quality and location. Non-packaged finished rice with 5% broken rice is about 8,300-8,450VND/kg, 15% broken rice 7,850 - 8,000VND/kg and 25% broken rice of about 7,550-7,700VND/kg depending on the quality and localities.
4.2. Foodstuff:
The price of pig in living weight in the markets still fell sharply over the previous month (about 55,000-60,000VND/kg), half fat and half lean pork meat 81,000VND/kg; beef tenderloin 190,000VND/kg (up about 10,000VND/kg); shrimp 230,000 VND/kg; red emperor 33,000VND/kg (down 1,000VND/kg)
4.3. Vegetables of all kinds: vegetable prices was generally stable: cabbage 9,000VND/kg, bitter melon 25,000d/kg, Cove beans 18,000VND/kg, spinach 10,000VND/kg (up 2,000VND/kg), cucumber 11,000VND/kg (unchanged)
4.4. Agricultural Materials: Chinese DAP retail price: 14,500VND/kg, Chineses Urea 9,300VND/kg (up 100VND/kg), Phu My urea 10,400VND/kg (up 900VND/kg over the previous month).
5. Natural disasters, epidemics:
5.1. Natural disasters: in the month no disaster situation which impact badly on people's life and production.
5.2. Disease situation
- Avian Influenza: After nearly one year of no bird flu on a large scale, from the end of January this year, the poultry breeding are suffering great losses due to bird flu out breaking in several provinces throughout the 3 regions. According to the Department of Animal Health, there were over 34 thousand poultries of death and destruction until Feb 18th 2012. Epidemic situation is happening complicatedly with threat of spreading to many areas of the country and no signs of stopping because influenza virus strains has changed with unusual changes of the weather and the lack of good management of poultry during transport which lead to more complex epidemic situation. Poultry population was estimated to increase slightly over the same period last year.
Currently, Hai Phong, Bac Giang, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh had bird flu less than 21 days. With unfavorable weather conditions (rain, humidity in the regions), changed avian flu virus genera is a condition for more and more complicated epidemic demonstration. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has established seven working groups for defense and protection against avian flu in the cities.
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD): FMD currently occurs in Thai Binh.
- PRRS in pigs: There is no diseases and new outbreaks in localities over the country./.
Ministry of Planning and Investment