The country’s Mekong Delta provinces have focused on improving the export value for agricultural products in 2016 after the region achieved US$13.2 billion in export turnover last year.
Highlights
The two main items that contributed most to the region’s overall export turnover in 2015 were seafood and rice. The Mekong Delta’s rice exports in 2015 reached more than 6.2 million tonnes worth nearly US$2.7 billion. In a context where world rice prices continued to decline, this figure remained optimistic.
Thanks to nearly 800,000 ha of water surface, the region’s seafood exports totaled 3.8 million tonnes valued at US$4 billion in 2015. Processing businesses have earmarked their material areas regarding Tra fish. Around 2,800 ha of Tra fish farming areas have achieved sustainable certification, including the GlobalGAP certification for 2,000 ha.
According to the Mekong Delta Steering Committee, seafood helped enhance the region’s overall export turnover in 2015. Of this, Ca Mau Province ranked first in terms of seafood exports with US$1.4 billion, accounting for 19.4 percent of the region’s total export turnover. The provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap and Bac Lieu also reached high seafood export turnover in 2015.
Establishing sustainable links
Can Tho Department of Industry and Trade Deputy Director Huynh Trung Tru said that improving product quality and developing export markets for rice and seafood were vital. He also said that departments and agencies needed to devise export development strategies associated with support solutions.
An Giang Department of Industry and Trade Director Mai Thi Anh Tuyet said that to enhance export value, local businesses would pay attention to improved design and focus on promoting links between businesses and farmers. In addition to creating favorable conditions for businesses, the department will also encourage businesses to deploy new production models.
Dong Thap Branch Directorate of Fisheries Deputy General Director Le Thi Kieu Trang said that the province would encourage farmers to promote cooperation with seafood businesses. In a link between businesses and farmers, businesses will pour capital into feed, while farmers will deliver seafood to them. One of the province’s most successful models belongs to the Hung Ca Co., Ltd. that has more than 300 households participating. Participating farmers have seen returns of VND48.7-57.4 million per ha per harvest.
(Source VEN)