Unsold pigs, surplus bananas, broken ship 67: Hundreds of burdens weigh on farmers' shoulders

Pork price crisis, sluggish agricultural products, newly built steel-hulled ships breaking down unexpectedly... are the burdens that have weighed on farmers' shoulders in recent times.

The price of pork and agricultural and forestry products "dancing"; steel-hulled ships built under Decree 67 breaking down unexpectedly... are the burdens that have been weighing on farmers' shoulders in recent times. How to overcome difficulties for farmers is the statement of Mr. Leu Vu Dieu, Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, at the Conference this morning, July 24.

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Mr. Leu Vu Dieu, Standing Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, said: "In the first 6 months of 2017, the world and regional situation continued to develop complicatedly; conflicts and tensions occurred in many places. In the country, the limitations and weaknesses accumulated over many years were more clearly revealed, especially in terms of productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy, which were still low, and the impact of climate change; the problem of consuming agricultural products such as pork, seafood, rice, pepper, bananas, watermelons, dragon fruits, onions, chili peppers, etc. encountered many difficulties, affecting agricultural production and farmers' lives."

However, under the leadership and direction of the Central Executive Committee of the Association and all levels of the Association, cadres, members and farmers nationwide promote the tradition of solidarity, strive to overcome difficulties, and promote emulation movements to well implement the targets and tasks of the Association and the farmers' movement.

This conference discussed many big and burning issues of farmers.

Some issues have been well implemented in the past 6 months such as: Regarding the agricultural situation, continuing to restructure agriculture, converting crops and livestock, agricultural production gradually recovered, agricultural growth reached 2.65%.

The total export value of the whole industry reached 17.1 USD, up 13.1% compared to the same period in 2016. The value of some agricultural products increased such as: rice increased by 4.9%, seafood increased by 14.1%; coffee increased by 9.5%; cashew nuts increased by 20.8%; vegetables and fruits increased by 44.6% compared to the same period in 2016. However, some products decreased such as: pepper decreased by 16.8%; cassava and cassava products decreased by 11.8% compared to the same period in 2016.

Regarding the situation of farmers and rural areas: Farmers trust the Party's leadership in the fight against corruption and waste; trust in the drastic direction and management of the Government and the Prime Minister who have implemented many policies to support and develop organic agriculture, high technology, clean agriculture, smart agriculture, support farmers in cooperating with businesses, developing new cooperative models; on production, processing and consumption of rice according to the value chain...

The target program on new rural areas has achieved many results. As of June 30, the whole country had 2,745 communes recognized as meeting new rural standards, an increase of 352 communes compared to the end of 2016. 34 district-level units have been recognized as meeting new rural standards.

Mr. Leu Vu Dieu further emphasized: In addition to the achievements, however, the agricultural situation of farmers and rural areas still has many difficulties and concerns such as: In the agricultural sector, natural disasters, epidemics, crops and livestock are complicated, causing heavy damage to agricultural production.

Mr. Leu Vu Dieu - Standing Vice President of Vietnam Farmers' Association reported on the Association's work in the first 6 months of 2017

According to Mr. Dieu, the problem of consuming agricultural products such as pork, seafood, rice, pepper, salt, watermelon, dragon fruit, onions, chili, is very difficult, the situation of good harvest but low price, being forced down by traders continues to recur, most recently the price of pork continues to decrease sharply, causing great damage to farmers. The situation of fake and poor quality breeds, fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary drugs, animal feed is still not strictly controlled, greatly affecting the economy of farmers. Regarding the field of farmers: in some places, there is frustration with local officials who have embezzled the State's support money for farmers.

“Especially recently, fishermen who borrowed capital under Decree 67/2014/ND-CP of the Government to build iron-hulled fishing boats have had difficulty accessing loans. Many households that received loans were very upset when their newly used boats had rusted hulls and damaged machinery and equipment, and had to anchor for many months waiting for repairs, causing great economic losses to fishermen;

Illegal sand mining is still taking place in many places, causing loss of resources, affecting the flow and risk of landslides, but there are no effective measures to handle and prevent it; Farmers are confused and worried when riverbank and coastal erosion is taking place in many localities, seriously affecting production and farmers' lives; The lives of a part of farmers in remote and isolated areas still face many difficulties. Millions of farmers who borrowed capital for large-scale livestock farming are having difficulty in repaying their debts and are at risk of bankruptcy..." - Mr. Leu Vu Dieu emphasized.

Mr. Lai Xuan Mon - Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union highly appreciated the results achieved in the past 6 months by the Unions at all levels, and the members' efforts to compete and strive to fulfill the targets and tasks of the Union and the farmers' movement, contributing with the people of the whole country to successfully carry out the tasks of socio-economic development, national defense and security in 2017./.

According to VOV