According to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, thanks to good preparation and precise projection, total agricultural export turnover reached over 19 billion USD, up over 23% in first four months of the year.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien's review of the agricultural sector's performance in the first four months of the year highlights the remarkable growth in agricultural export revenue, reaching over 19 billion USD with a year-on-year increase of over 23%. Despite challenges such as climate change and saltwater intrusion, the sector successfully met its targets, attributed to effective planning and accurate forecasting.

In April alone, agricultural export turnover exceeded 5 billion USD, with significant growth observed across various product categories. Main agricultural products accounted for nearly 3 billion USD, forestry products nearly 1.4 billion USD, and livestock over 40 million USD. However, seafood experienced a slight decrease to 730 million USD. The United States, China, and Japan remained the top three export markets, with the United States leading at over 20%.

Looking ahead, Deputy Minister Tien acknowledges the challenges posed by global economic uncertainties, including escalating military confrontations impacting supply chains and transportation costs. However, he sees these challenges as opportunities to expand agricultural exports to markets with higher value-added.

To capitalize on these opportunities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is collaborating closely with relevant ministries, including Industry and Trade and Foreign Affairs, as well as Vietnamese embassies overseas. They are providing guidance to enhance trade promotion activities, focusing on specific market segments and leveraging market advantages to further boost agricultural exports.

The domestic market holds significant importance for Vietnam, especially given its role as a bridge within the ASEAN region. While various countries are interested in importing agricultural products from Vietnam, it's crucial to maintain strict quality management and focus on enhancing development along the value chain. This involves closely monitoring and managing every stage of the production process and promoting investment in processing and advanced processing to improve product competitiveness.

A recent success story is the export of the first batch of veterinary drugs to the Halal market, with plans to continue exporting chicken meat to this market by the end of May. If these export activities proceed smoothly, it's anticipated that Vietnam could consume around 100,000 tons of poultry meat per month, significantly boosting the domestic poultry farming industry.

The successful export to challenging markets like Halal isn't merely a stroke of luck; it requires a rigorous process of preparation and construction, with active involvement from both state management agencies and enterprises. In light of these achievements, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside specialized entities, continues to provide guidance, assistance, and incentives to firms to encourage technological investments and develop highly competitive goods for the market. This concerted effort aims to strengthen Vietnam's position in both domestic and international agricultural trade.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien has acknowledged the challenge of fluctuating yields and prices, particularly during peak production seasons like May, June, and July. To address this issue, MARD has taken proactive steps by organizing specialized conferences and activities to assess the situation, predict trends, and provide guidance and solutions based on data analysis.

Local authorities have been instructed to implement coordinated scientific and technological measures, including staggered planting, to better manage harvest and consumption. There's also a shift towards focusing on the value of agricultural products, striking a balance between market demands and production recommendations, promoting trade, and enhancing deep processing capabilities.

Many businesses have taken the initiative to establish partnerships with cooperatives and producers across the entire value chain, from seed preparation to processing. This comprehensive management approach has helped ensure smoother production and consumption processes, particularly for perishable fruits with short harvesting periods, thereby reducing pressure on consumption.