The decline in exports of several key agricultural products during thefirst months of 2015 demonstrates the long-term challenges facingfarmers and exporters, and shows that urgent solutions are required toensure more sustainable development.
According to theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), exports ofagricultural, forestry and seafood products in the first two months wereworth over 4.17 billion USD, 1.9 percent lower than the same periodlast year.
Most key export commodities suffered a downturn, including seafood, rice, coffee and rubber.
Seafood trade was valued at 907 million USD, an annual plunge of 9.4percent, raising concerns about the unpredictability and instabilityplaguing the industry.
Prawn and tra fish exportsmight suffer this year due to a high anti-dumping tax rate imposed bythe United States and growing competition from other suppliers,particularly Indonesia , Bangladesh and India .
Rice exports also experienced a bad time, as the product only broughthome 243 million USD during the period, down 34 percent year on year.China , Vietnam ’s largest rice buyer, plans to tighten its hold oncross-border rice trading and welcome more imports of lower-priced ricefrom India , Pakistan and Myanmar .
In addition,oversupply and fierce global competition are believed to be draggingdown the rubber prices early this year to 1,423 USD per tonne, a drop of31.27 percent, the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) has announced.
Economic experts revealed that the weakening of agricultural exportsmight stem from inadequate marketing efforts and a lack of hi-techfarming products used by local exporters. Most products are exported intheir raw form at relatively high prices.
To solve theproblems, Luu Bich Ho, former Director of the Development StrategyInstitute at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, suggestedexporters play a greater role in the farming production chain, ensuringthe provision of high quality inputs and outputs.
Increased market information for farmers, and proper research regardingcustomer taste and habits, is also essential when planning an exportstrategy, he added.-VNA
According to theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), exports ofagricultural, forestry and seafood products in the first two months wereworth over 4.17 billion USD, 1.9 percent lower than the same periodlast year.
Most key export commodities suffered a downturn, including seafood, rice, coffee and rubber.
Seafood trade was valued at 907 million USD, an annual plunge of 9.4percent, raising concerns about the unpredictability and instabilityplaguing the industry.
Prawn and tra fish exportsmight suffer this year due to a high anti-dumping tax rate imposed bythe United States and growing competition from other suppliers,particularly Indonesia , Bangladesh and India .
Rice exports also experienced a bad time, as the product only broughthome 243 million USD during the period, down 34 percent year on year.China , Vietnam ’s largest rice buyer, plans to tighten its hold oncross-border rice trading and welcome more imports of lower-priced ricefrom India , Pakistan and Myanmar .
In addition,oversupply and fierce global competition are believed to be draggingdown the rubber prices early this year to 1,423 USD per tonne, a drop of31.27 percent, the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) has announced.
Economic experts revealed that the weakening of agricultural exportsmight stem from inadequate marketing efforts and a lack of hi-techfarming products used by local exporters. Most products are exported intheir raw form at relatively high prices.
To solve theproblems, Luu Bich Ho, former Director of the Development StrategyInstitute at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, suggestedexporters play a greater role in the farming production chain, ensuringthe provision of high quality inputs and outputs.
Increased market information for farmers, and proper research regardingcustomer taste and habits, is also essential when planning an exportstrategy, he added.-VNA
