Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong works in Nghe An

On April 25, comrade Nguyen Xuan Cuong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and a working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development worked in Nghe An on agricultural restructuring associated with new rural construction and livestock development.

Overview of the working session between the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and leaders of Nghe An province. Photo: Nguyen Son

Working with the delegation were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant departments and branches.

AGRICULTURE HAS POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

According to the report of the Provincial People's Committee, the total product in the province (GRDP) in the first quarter of 2020 is estimated at 18,528.46 billion VND, an increase of 3.68% over the same period in 2019, of which the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector is estimated at 4,004.4 billion VND, an increase of 4.75%. Up to now, 265 communes have met new rural standards, accounting for 61.48% (after the merger, 245/411 communes, accounting for 59.61%); 4 district-level units (Thai Hoa, Vinh city, Nam Dan, Yen Thanh) have completed their tasks and met new rural standards; Foreign affairs and investment promotion activities continue to be innovated, making good use of domestic and foreign capital sources; Budget revenue is 4,976.58 billion VND, reaching 32.7% of the estimate; Budget expenditure is estimated at 9,644.9 billion VND, reaching 35.6% of the estimate; Cultural fields have many changes; national defense and security remain stable...

Localities pay attention to seasonal vegetable production... Photo: Mai Hoa

In the first quarter of 2020, despite facing many difficulties in weather and disease prevention, the estimated production value of the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector reached VND 4,004.4 billion, up 4.75%, of which agriculture increased by 2.43%; forestry increased by 3.21% and fishery increased by 11.02%. The Provincial People's Committee and the agricultural sector strengthened the direction of localities and units to complete the plan targets and growth scenarios for the agriculture and rural development sector in 2020 (GRDP growth rate of 5.0 - 5.1%), especially key products, contributing positively to the overall growth of the province.

Regarding livestock, total herd of livestock and poultry (as of April 1, 2020): Total buffalo herd is estimated at 270,584, down 0.54% over the same period in 2019; Total cow herd is estimated at 475,702, up 1.04%; Total pig herd is estimated at 901,449, down 3.25%, due to the complicated developments of African swine fever, many households have not yet re-herded (currently facing many difficulties in capital, while the price of breeding animals is high, lacking supply).

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting. Photo: Nguyen Son

Although the province has a support mechanism of 1 million VND/sow, according to statistics on pig farming demand in the province, nearly 14,000 more sows are needed to provide breeding stock.

Support work for damage caused by African swine fever in 2019 and up to April 2020 in the province with a total estimated cost (disease prevention, control and pig culling) of more than 183 billion VND, of which more than 180 billion VND in 2019, more than 2.2 billion VND in 2020; Total poultry herd is estimated at 26,018 thousand heads, an increase of 6.91%.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee reported on the agricultural production situation in Nghe An. Photo by Nguyen Son.

Currently, the weather is in the transitional period, the risk of dangerous epidemics in the coming time is very high. The agricultural sector and localities are focusing on directing the inspection and closely monitoring the development of livestock and poultry epidemics in the area to promptly contain and prevent them.

At the same time, focus on developing livestock farming in a sustainable direction; transforming livestock structure, developing value chains to improve the quality of livestock products to meet domestic consumption and export needs.

Statistics show that Nghe An needs 14,000 more sows to provide breeding stock for the goal of developing a herd of over 1 million pigs. Illustrative photo.

The Provincial People's Committee also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government to support the implementation of a number of irrigation projects; promote agricultural product exports; improve the veterinary system; provide more chemicals and vaccines to prevent livestock and poultry diseases; speed up the implementation of the "High-tech Forestry Zone Project in the North Central region in Nghe An province"...

Actively applying high technology

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong acknowledged the efforts of local Party committees, authorities and people in agricultural development, contributing positively to the overall development. The Minister emphasized that Nghe An has formed high-quality agricultural areas, which is an important factor to increase production value. The core issue is to focus on mobilizing and using resources reasonably and effectively.

Emphasizing the importance of food security, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said that with a large province and a large population, Nghe An must pay more attention to this field. Accordingly, in agricultural production, it is necessary to actively take care of safe conditions for production, strengthen disease prevention, and adapt to climate change.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong suggested Nghe An promote agricultural restructuring, focus on biosafety in livestock farming, and promote local strengths. Photo: Nguyen Son

Regarding the spring rice crop, through monitoring, Nghe An has maintained its acreage and is currently growing well. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that the province needs to closely monitor weather developments, take measures to prevent pests, leaf rollers, leaf blight, and respond to late-season developments to ensure success.

Regarding the development of pig herds after African swine fever, this is an issue that needs due attention, as the whole country is currently lacking in supply. Regenerating pig herds after the epidemic is an urgent requirement but must ensure the highest safety. Currently in Nghe An, the number of pig herds is increasing, which is a good sign. Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong suggested that Nghe An province should pay attention to businesses and households raising pigs to have a firm grasp of breeding techniques, and increase care for boars and sows to create good breeds in the area.

Nghe An province also needs to promptly regulate policies to support the development of pig herds, and at the same time strengthen training in biosafety farming for pig farmers. On that basis, quickly restore the total pig herd, ensure food supply in the province and the whole country and develop livelihoods for farmers.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

At the same time, Nghe An needs to continue to transform the agricultural sector structure towards increasing value along the chain, because the agricultural front always makes an important contribution to socio-economic development. Regarding some recommendations of Nghe An province, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development discussed and agreed to assign the functional units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to resolve and help the province in the development process.

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee thanked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for his timely attention, direction and support. The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that Nghe An province receives and implements the directions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as other ministries and branches. The province is making efforts to call on businesses to invest in the agricultural sector to work with farmers to promote the potential strengths in the area, promote agricultural development, and associate with rural construction in the new period.

After working with leaders of Nghe An province, the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected the actual agricultural production in some localities in the province. Nghe An Newspaper will continue to update the information.