The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has put nine agro-forestry-aquatic products into the group of key exports for 2011. They include seafood, fruit and vegetables, cashew nuts, coffee, tea, pepper, rice, cassava and rubber.

  

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has predicted that Vietnam is likely to produce 40 million tonnes of rice, equivalent to the level recorded in 2010. That means the country will put aside 5.5-6.1 million tonnes for exports. Meanwhile, seafood export turnover in 2011 is expected to hit nearly US$5.5 billion, US$500 million more than 2010.

 

It is also predicted that coffee production will recover this year. According to MARD, the coffee growing area for the 2010-2011 crop is estimated to reach 548,200 ha, up 1.8 percent over the last crop and coffee output will be likely to soar by 4.6 percent with a total of more than 1,105 thousand tonnes.

 

Vietnam should earn US$2 billion with this year’s coffee exports and with an output of 1.28 million tonnes (Last year’s output was 1.17 million tonnes with export earnings of US$1.763 billion.

 

The two-fold increase in the price of rubber in 2010 has added more impetus to expand the area for growing this industrial crop in many countries around the world.

 

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam’s rubber output may increase by 4 percent to reach 780,000 tonnes, thanks to the growing area being expanded by 5,000 hectares.

 

This year’s rubber export turnover is estimated to hit more than US$3 billion at 760,000 tonnes.

 

Pepper is expected to enjoy  brisk  business year due to high demand in the global market and a limited supply.

 

Accounting for 44.2 percent of the total global pepper exports, Vietnam will continue to claim the top spot among the world’s pepper exporters.

 

The Vietnam Pepper Association predicted that this year’s total output may reach roughly 100,000 tonnes, up 5.3 percent over 2010.

 

This year, the industrial sector will finalise planning safe production areas for growing fruit and vegetables, and tea in all provinces and cities throughout the country.

 

Vietnam is set to have 50 percent of organisations and individuals farming in safe production areas meeting VietGAP standards and 30 percent of agricultural products certified or assessed for production under VietGAP standards.

 

 (VOVNEWS)