REPORT ON AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERY
OF THE FIRST 6 MONTHS 2014
Agriculture, forestry and fishery production has overcome many difficulties due to the severe weather in the first months of the year beginning and diseases, ensuring stability of production development. Production value of the whole sector (at 2010 fixed price) in the first 6 months was estimated at 357.443 billion dong, up 3.43% as compared to the same period last year, reaching the highest growth over the same period last years (it raised by 2.53% in 2013; by 2.81% in 2012; by 2.08% in 2011), in which: agriculture rose by 2.52%, forestry by 5.87% and fishery by 6.02%.
I. Agriculture
1. Cultivation
a) Annual crops
In the first 6 months, agricultural production of the whole country mainly focused on the task of winter-spring crop production, besides the preparation of winter crop in the North and cultivation of summer-autumn crop in the South. Now the Northern localities were harvesting the winter-spring crop and preparing for seeding of winter crop. The Southern localities basically harvested the winter-spring rice and deployed sowing of summer-autumn crop.
Rice
Winter spring crop of the whole country sowed 3116.3 thousand hectares of rice, up 10.7 thousand hectares, equaling 100.3% over last year. Preliminary evaluation of productivity was estimated at 6.69 tons/hectare, up 0.24 ton/hectare; output was estimated at 20.8 million tons, up 812.2 thousand tons, Mekong delta area this year gained a big harvest of rice, output was estimated at 11.2 million tons, up 546 thousand tons (equivalent to 5.1%).
Now the Northern localities were harvesting at 995.3 thousand hectares of winter-spring rice, equaling 91.5% as compared to the same period last year. Preliminary evaluation of the Northern localities’ productivity was 6.26 tons/hectare, up 0.08 tons/hectare; output was estimated at 7.3 million tons, up 119.5 thousand tons. Particularly, due to slightly reduction of the area (down 3.6 thousand hectares, equivalent to reduce 0.6%) and influence of the weather, rice productivity of Red River delta was estimated at 6.57 tons/hectare, approximately 2013; output was about 3.6 million tons, down 24 thousand tons (-0.7%). Winter-spring rice production of the Southern localities this year was generally extremely favorable, mainly cause of arrangement of seasonal schedule slowdown, thus rice had more suitable natural conditions than last years. Productivity, output increased high, in which, Mekong delta, area of high quality rice and model of large sample paddy field were interested and expanded; farmers applied scientific and technical progress in agricultural production; used high certified rice making for about 70-80% of total sowing area; production towards planning, sowing area was convergent and simultaneous in accordance with recommendation seasonal schedule of agricultural sector to avoid pests in rice.
Consumption of winter-spring rice in Mekong delta
Price of winter-spring rice 2014 of the crop beginning was relatively favorable particularly cause of implementation of purchasing for temporary storage of the Government at the localities from March 15th to April 30th 2014. Thus, rice price was rather stable (price of fresh rice ranging from 4,300 to 5,000 dong/kg, dry rice from 5,300 to 6,000 dong/kg depending on the type, approximately as compared the price of same period) but it was still difficult due to different harvest crops of localities in an area.
As of mid-June, the whole country sowed 1977.9 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, equaling 103.3% over the same period, mainly in the Mekong delta, reaching 1876.3 hectares, equivalent to 98% over the same period. Cultivation of the crop beginning had many difficuties because the weather was hot and water shortage due to late rains, so sowing progress was rather slower than the same period. At this moment, there were 205.6 hectares of summer-autumn rice harvested early, equaling 63.9% of the same period; due to be recommended of water shortage ability, other areas should transfer the area at foot of high land to crop.
Other annual plants
In winter-spring crop, the whole country cultivated 609.5 thousand hectares of corn, equaling 101.4% of the same period, output was estimated 2.5 million tons, down 28.8 thousand tons. In which, the Northern cultivated 535.4 thousand hectares, equaling 102.1% as compared to 2013, output was estimated at 2.1 million tons, down 56 thousand tons. The localities which productivity was reduced most are Nghe An (-0.86 ton/hectare), Lao Cai (-1.02 ton/hectare), Hoa Binh (-0.48 ton/hectare). Because around the time of pollination of corn spraying stubble, it was rain hard, particularly Nghe An was influenced by the hot sun and south wind causing reduction of productivity of spring corn. Output of sweet potato was estimated at 843 thousand tons, equaling 96.8% as compared to the last year, vegetables was 8.4 million tons, up 6.6%; due to hard rain, output of some plants reduced over the winter-spring crop 2013: peanuts was 351.9 thousand tons, down 32 thousand tons (-8.3%), soybeans was 83.6 thousand tons, down 7 thousand tons (-7.7%).
b) Perennial plants
According to the Report, total cultivation areas of perennial plants in the first 6 months 2014 of localities was estimated to have not much variation as compared to the same period last year but structure of plants was highly variable to match the growing condition of each region and gain economic benefit.
Perennial industrial plants continued developing towards producing goods for domestic consumption and export. Currently, due to having high price and catch-crop cultivation easily, thus pepper should tend to thrive; output was estimated at 116.7 thousand tons, up 7% as compared to the same period last year. Production of rubber trees was stable but its market consumed slowly, price was low, so perfunctory harvest output was 312.8 thousand tons, up 1.2% as compared to the same period last year. Bud tea trees had relatively stable development, output of the 6 months still increased 5% as compared to the same period last year.
Output of several major fruit trees in the first 6 months was also quite well, in which, orange yield was estimated at 278.39 thousand tons, up 5.1% as compared to the same period last year; banana at 1.01 million tons, up 4.1%; especially grape at 11.7 thousand billion tons, up 10.7% over the same period last year. Output of some other fruit trees as pinapple, grapefruit reduced because it was unfavorable weather when it bloomed and some cultivation areas were being renovated to convert plant structure in conformity with cultivation conditions and getting more economic efficiency.
2. Livestock
Buffalo and cow livestock: According to results of the preliminary survey at the moment of April 1st 2014, the whole country had got 2.58 million of buffaloes, equaling 99.37%; 5.18 million of cows, equivalent to 100.7% over the same period in 2013. Generally, buffalo quantity decreased mainly cause of low livestock efficiency and narrow livestock area; particularly diary herd continued increasing, reached 200.4 thousand, up 26 thousand (+14%) over the same period. Yield of buffalo and cow meat of the first 6 months reached approximately the same period, in which output of milk cow was 265.4 thousand tons, up 19.2% as compared to the same period last year.
Pig livestock: According to results of the preliminary survey at the moment of April 1st 2014, the whole country had got 26.39 million of pigs, equaling 100.3%. Currently, pig livestock was rather favorable because the increase of price of hog and unhappened blue ear disease stimulated farmers to re-invest. Live-weight output of slaughtered hog in the first 6 months was estimated at 1963.3 thousand tons, equaling 101.65% as compared to the same period last year.
Poultry breeding: According to results of the preliminary survey at the moment of April 1st 2014, total poultry of the whole country was 314.4 million, equaling 100.7% as compared to the same period 2013. Live-weight output of slaughtered poultry was estimated at 442.8 thousand tons, equivalent to 100.6% as compared to the same period. Yield of poultry’s eggs was 4,543 million, equaling 105.5% over the same period last year. In February and March 2014, poultry breeding also faced difficulties because H5N1 bird flu outbroke in 32 provinces and cities nationwide causing confused mental for consumers and producers, and narrowing consumption of poultry product, farmers faced many difficulties in production and circulation of goods. Although, avian influenza was controlled now, poultry recovery after epidemic had many difficulties due to hot and fluctuant weather affecting the growth and development of poultry as well as the risk of disease outbreak. Feed price remaining high also made process of re-invest slow.
II. Forestry
In the first 6 months 2014, dry weather in many localities nationwide affected agricultural production, however there were some facility, the Northern provinces had rain early to deploy reforestation ensuring seasonal schedule. Exploitation of forest products was also rather good, main exploited kinds of them increased as compared to the same period 2013. Results of implementation of some major targets included:
Newly concentrated planted forest area was estimated was estimated at 71.4 thousand hectares, up 4.8% over the same period last year; in which mainly area of production forest (over 90%). Some provinces having high newly concentrated planted forest area were: Tuyen Quang 10.8 thousand hectares (+13.4%); Yen Bai 10.4 thousand hectares (+15.6%); Quang Ninh 10.1 thousand hectares (+12.8%); Phu Tho 6.2 thousand hectares (+16.8%)... Area of concentrated planted forest increased as compared to the same period due to the increase of demand of production and consumption wood, consumption price of wood raw material is rather high, so people and businesses enhanced to plant newly and expand area of production forest. Number of scattered forest trees was estimated at 110.7 million (-0.5%).
Wood extraction yield in the first 6 months was 2,616 thousand m3, up 8.5% over the same period; firewood extraction yield was 15.4 million ste, up 3.2%. Wood extraction yield increased because domestic and export supply resource and consumption market was stable, in the first 5 months 2014, value of wood export and product increased 14.2% over the same period 2013.
In 2014, facing the risk of forest fire in dry season, the Prime Minister issued Directive 04/CT-TTg dated on March 5th 2014 on strengthening measures for forest fire prevention; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also issued urgent telegram No. 01/CD-BNN-TCLN dated on January 3rd 2014 on prevention of forest fire prevention. Localities deployed actively prevention of forest fire since beginning of the year, but due to pro-longed hot and dry weather in this period, many regions nationwide occurred forest fire, especially the Central provinces and the Northern midland and mountainous; as of early June 2014, some Central provinces (Nghe An, Ha Tinh) still occurred many forest fires consecutively. Preliminary total of the first 6 months showed that area of damaged forest was 2,154 hectares nationwide, up 59% as compared to the same period last year, of which burnt forest area was 1,734 hectares, up 2 times; destroyed forest area was 420 hectares, down 17.6%. Some localities having much area of burnt forest were Yen Bai 692.2 hectares, Lai Chau 171 hectares, Nghe An 115 hectares, Quang Tri 99.3 hectares...; some having much area of destroyed forest were Dak Nong 89.3 hectares, Bac Giang 89.2 hectares, Lam Dong 56.7 hectares, Kon Tum 54.8 hectares...
III. Fishery
The weather was rather favorable for both of marine aquaculture and exploitation, aquatic production continued developing towards focusing on aquaculture of high economic efficiency, enhancing capacity of offshore exploitation, protecting fishery resources to ensure sustainable development. Although catfish production had been facing difficulty for a long time, shrimp and other seafood were quite contributing largely to increase result of aquaculture production.
a. Aquaculture
Area of aquaculture in this period was estimated at 933 thousand hectares, up 1.4% over the same period, of which fish area was 286 thousand hectares, approximately the same period; shrimp was 601 thousand hectares, up 1.1%. Aquaculture output was estimated at 1,453 thousand tons, up 3.4%; in which fish was 1090.3 thousand tons, down 1%; shrimp was 229.5 thousand tons, up 26.2%; other aquaculture was 133 thousand tons, up 9.2%.
Catfish still had not got positive changes, farmers had difficulties consecutively such as rising feed price highly, decreasing consumption price of output products while reducing demand from big export market like the US and EU, on the other hand, in 2014, the US Department of Commerce adjusted the 9th of catfish antidumping tariff, up 2.8 times as compared to the announced one in September 2013. Industrial catfish area in the Mekong delta as of June 15th was estimated at 3,500 hectares, down 6.1% over the same period. Yield of harvested catfish in the first 6 months was 55 thousand tons, down 1.6%, in which: Can Tho was 57 thousand tons (-7.5%); An Giang was 126 thousand tons (-3.6%); Vinh Long was 51 thousand tons (-1.7%).
Structure of shrimp farming changed quickly towards decrease of tiger shrimp farming area, strong increase of whiteleg shrimp farming area. Reason of whiteleg shrimp farming are short raising period, high productivity and more effective than tiger shrimp. Area of harvested tiger shrimp in this period was estimated at 495 thousand hectares, down 10% (-65 thousand hectares); whiteleg shrimp was 53 thousand hectares, up 111% (+28 thousand hectares). Tiger shrimp yield was estimated at 106 thousand tons (-5.5%), while yield of whiteleg shrimp increasing strongly was estimated at 117 thousand tons, up more than 2 times over the same period, whiteleg shrimp yield of some localities increased strongly such as Tra Vinh 8,939 tons, up 708.2% (+7,947 tons); Bac Lieu 8,149 tons, up 550% (+7,062 tons); Tien Giang 5,278 tons, up 129.7% (+3.677 tons); Ben Tre 18,282 tons, up 12.5% (+9,678 tons)... However, farmers were facing difficulties due to massive shift, non-compliance with the schedule and technical condition, whiteleg shrimp of many localities had hepatopancreas necrosis disease, white spots... needed to harvest early when it was insufficient market size. Whiteleg shrimp farming increased strongly leading to excess supply, falling prices and households would be lost again unless calculating carefully.
Marine aquaculture continued growing fairly with clams, cobia, grouper, grouper, snapper, fish, birds, snails, snout, pearl, seaweed... estimate of output fishery mariculture was 170 thousand tons, an increase of 9% over the same period.
b. Fishery exploitation
Fishery exploitation was estimated at 1413.5 thousand tons, up 5.5% over the same period, in which marine exploitation was estimated at 1328.7 thousand tons, up 5.6%.
Seafood exploitation shifted fast towards increase of offshore fishing, decrease of inshore fishing. The weather on the seas and oceans of the first 6 months was rather favorable, fisherman exploited effectively, invested new purchase or upgrade offshore vessels with large capacity, reorganized production methods. Besides, localities actively supported fisherman preferential loans to transformation, building boats with large capacity, organization of registered, registration, technical safety inspection to ensure efficiency of the offshore trips.
Tuna fishing was not been exploited effectively due to the technique of fishermen, despite of high yield, tuna fish quality did not reach the export standard leading to low selling price and people continued to turn to other fishing. Yield of tuna in the first 6 months was estimated at 10.4 thousand tons, down 16%, of which Phu Yen was 3.2 thousand tons (-22.1%); Binh Dinh was 5.7 thousand tons (-12.3%); Khanh Hoa was 1.5 thousand tons (-21%).
IV. Some major measures focusing on implementing in the last 6 months
- Agriculture: Promoting cultivation sector, well implementing the policy of temporary storage of rice, ensuring supply resources and quality of seed rice, closely managing market of drug of plant protection and fertilizer for rice, developing area of production modeled large sample field and area of application of good agricultural practice; accelerating restructuring of plant, especially from area of inefficient rice to other crops with higher value, supporting people through the policy of supporting seed (Decision No. 580/QD-TTg date April 22nd 2014)
- Livestock: Promoting recovery livestock and poultry with reasonable quantity, guaranting to meet domestic comsumption demand while maintaining profitable prices for farmers: increasing the number of cattle and cattle grazing...; strengthening the anti-epidemic measures; strictly control the smuggling of livestock products.
- Fishery: Continuing investment in aquaculture breeding centers; Investment in handling infrastructure of intensive breeding areas (ensuring water cultivation and processing environment for disease prevention) mainly focusing on Mekong Delta; strictly control the quality of food hygiene and safety, especially the problem of residual antibiotic in export products; continuing to support credit for catfish, basa fish and shrimp.
- Forestry: Strengthening forest management and safety, strictly managing the conversion of agricultural land using.
- Supporting localities to deploy urgent measures to prevent natural disasters: Buildings of reservior safety, anti-erosion embankment to residential protection and migration projects off the areas with high risk of natural disasters, renovating dikes of river and sea...
Ministry of Planning and Investment