High-tech farming dominates agricultural production

In the first 6 months of 2023, the growth rate of the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector reached 4.48%, 0.52% higher than the same period last year. However, according to the 2023 growth plan, it has not reached expectations, so it will put a lot of pressure on the whole industry in the last 6 months of the year.

Facing many difficulties

According to the report of the Agriculture sector, after the Lunar New Year, the whole sector faced many difficulties, that is, the price of livestock and poultry for sale decreased, while the price of input materials, especially feed prices, increased. The selling price of pigs from January to April decreased sharply, at times below 50,000 VND/kg of live weight. At this price, small-scale pig farming is sure to lose capital. Most farming households only dare to produce moderately, many households have not re-herded after harvest. Although the selling price of poultry has not decreased much compared to before, the consumption has decreased, leading to a large number of mature chickens in the barn; increasing costs for feed and veterinary medicine to maintain the chicken flock.

Fish seed production at Phuong Anh Company Limited (Mong Cai City).

Mr. Tran Van Lanh, Head of the Planning and Finance Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), said: Pigs and chickens are the two main livestock species of the province, if they decrease, it means the entire livestock industry will decrease. By the end of May 2023, the total pig herd decreased by 5%, cows decreased by 2%; poultry and buffalo herds increased by 2%, due to the remaining number of over-mature animals; the total output of livestock and poultry was 37,000 tons, 19% lower than the growth scenario (KBTT).

The growth rate of the fisheries industry increased compared to the same period in 2022, but was still lower than that of the 2023 KBTT. Specifically, in the first 5 months of the year, the total aquatic product output reached over 61,000 tons, 3.7% higher than the same period, 18% lower than the KBTT. In the first 3 months of the year, aquatic products increased in both output and selling price, due to the results of the late 2022 stocking season and high consumption before, during and after the 2023 Lunar New Year. In the second quarter of 2023, disease outbreaks in white-leg shrimp ponds reduced shrimp output, coupled with low market purchase prices, causing the value of the shrimp farming industry to decrease.

Melon model of Mr. Truong The Do, Dai Binh commune, Dam Ha district. Photo by Nguyen Ngoc

The growth rate of the cultivation and forestry sectors in the first 5 months of the year was not a breakthrough. Forestry alone achieved low levels in terms of planted forest area, exploited forest product output, and forest product value.

Bright spots

In the difficult context, it is fortunate that the province's agriculture, forestry and fishery sector still has bright spots, which are the core to ensure the growth rate of the whole industry according to the 2023 KBTT. Mr. Do Dinh Minh, Head of the Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), analyzed: Aquaculture output increased by nearly 7%, exploitation output increased by nearly 1%. Thus, the fisheries industry in the first months of the year is shifting in the right direction of increasing aquaculture and reducing exploitation.

Small-scale shrimp farming has recently caused outbreaks of diseases that have caused economic losses to shrimp farmers, but high-tech shrimp farming models still ensure results. The total shrimp output comes from concentrated shrimp farming facilities with high technology applications in Quang Yen, Ha Long, Dam Ha, Hai Ha, Mong Cai. Particularly, Tan An ward (Quang Yen town) and Van Ninh commune (Mong Cai city) have not only formed many new 3-4-stage shrimp farming facilities, indoor shrimp farming, winter shrimp farming, but also formed on-site shrimp processing facilities; thereby increasing the value of the products.

People of Viet Dan commune (Dong Trieu town) build fruit gardens associated with experiential tourism activities to increase value. Photo provided by the facility.

In the livestock sector, there are farmers who accept to "keep the barn", not re-herding because of losses; but concentrated livestock models applying high technology still preserve capital, even make profits (profit of 800,000 - 1 million VND/pig). According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), concentrated livestock facilities applying high technology are less affected by market impacts because the owners do a good job of disease prevention, create their own food sources on the spot to replace immediate food and imported food, change food rations reasonably... Thereby cutting costs, improving production efficiency.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the last 6 months of the year will be the harvest season for many crops and livestock, creating momentum for value increase. The growth rate set by the whole industry for the whole year of 2023 is more than 5%. According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the growth pressure is still very high if the whole industry does not make efforts, overcome shortcomings and weaknesses, promote strengths, and continue to focus on promoting high-tech farming and cultivation models.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nuoi-trong-cong-nghe-cao-chiem-uu-the-3243552.html