Promoting agricultural production during the Covid-19 epidemic

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Pham Van Canh chaired the Long An end-point bridge

The conference aimed to promote production and overcome difficulties in order to meet food needs in all circumstances; control and prevent epidemics on cattle and poultry to ensure economic growth.

Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic has been serious and complicated, affecting world economic growth. In Vietnam, the epidemic has affected the production, import, export and consumption of agricultural commodities.

Besides, the domestic Agriculture sector has also faced challenges. Specifically, climate change from the beginning of the year has caused drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region, affecting farming and aquaculture. Although African swine fever has been strongly reduced but has not been completely controlled, it has still caused difficulties for re-herding. Currently, the total number of pigs is about 24 million heads, down about 7 million compared to 2018 (31 million). In addition, Avian influenza is at risk of outbreaks due to the rapid increase of the total flock; etc. 

However, according to the assessment at the conference, despite being seriously affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, the export turnover of the Agriculture sector still reached 5.34 billion USD, down 2.8 percent over the same period in 2019; the import turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products was estimated at 4.3 billion USD, down 6.7 percent over the same period in 2019. The trade surplus of 2 months reached 1.02 billion VND, up 18.4 percent over the same period.

In Long An, after the Lunar New Year 2020, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the prices of some agricultural products (dragon fruit, lemon, watermelon, jackfruit) have decreased sharply

In Long An, after the Lunar New Year 2020, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the prices of some agricultural products (dragon fruit, lemon, watermelon, jackfruit) have decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2019. Until now, their prices have been relatively stable, the producers have been profitable.

In general, until now, the consumption of some key agricultural products of the province has been stable. The consumption of rice has not been affected. Lemons and bananas have been consumed mainly in the domestic market or exported. Watermelons and jackfruits have mainly consumed domestically, so they have not been affected. In contrast, due to the large output, dragon fruits have mainly been exported to China, so they are greatly affected in case of fluctuations in this market.

According to Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong, in 2020, the Agriculture sector has faced many difficulties. Therefore, in order to stabilize agricultural economic development, in the current context, the sector should work closely with ministries, sectors, local authorities and businesses to simultaneously implement solutions such as restructuring agricultural production in the direction of adapting to climate change, promoting regional advantages based on increasing the proportion of aquaculture and fruit trees, prioritizing research and application of high technology in preservation and processing.

For consumption markets, the Ministry will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese Embassies in other countries to effectively implement market development in key and potential areas; organize trade promotion forums, promote domestic consumption through a system of connecting agricultural product purchasing among localities, businesses and farmers./.

By Huynh Phong - Translated by Pham Ngan

Source: http://baolongan.vn/thuc-day-san-xuat-nong-nghiep-trong-dieu-kien-dich-benh-covid-19-a91751.html