Govt sets US$1.2 bn target for agricultural, forestry exports

The government will strive to promote exports of agricultural and forestry products and has set a target of US$1.2 billion to help boost socio-economic development.

The government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will ensure that the rate of growth in agriculture and forestry sectors expands at 2.3-2.5 percent.

This translates to 15-17 percent of GDP, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Lien Thikeo, informed the 9th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly’s 8th legislature recently.  

The target for paddy rice is 3.5 million tonnes, including sowing dry season rice on 90,000 hectares and wet season rice on 750,000 hectares. Besides 1.8 million tonnes of vegetables will be grown, he said.

The ministry will try to encourage farmers to produce 1.3 million tonnes of fruit, 300,000 tonnes of potatoes, 160,000 tonnes of coffee, 1 million tonnes of sweetcorn and 1.5 million tonnes of sugar.

The ministry will also ensure that the rate of livestock expansion increases at six percent and will expand breeding of fish by around 10 percent in order to meet the market demand. Besides, the target for meat, eggs and fish products is 465,000 tonnes, which includes 222,000 tonnes of meat, 43,000 tonnes of eggs and 200,000 tonnes of fish, Dr Lien said.

The country earned US$560 million last year by exporting agricultural products. Most of the goods were sold to China, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

In order to increase the export of agricultural products, the ministry has been negotiating market openings for crops, fruits and cattle with China, Vietnam, Thailand and the European Union, with 80 percent of the exports bound for China.

The ministry has successfully negotiated openings with Thailand for 12 crops and Vietnam for 13 crops.

The European Union has already opened its market for all kinds of goods from Laos.

However, with the recent tightening of access conditions to the EU market, there are only two locally-based companies that can maintain the hygiene standards for fresh fruits and vegetables. “China is the largest market for Lao exports receiving a 50,000-tonne quota of rice and 500,000 cattle per year,” the minister said.

In addition, the ministry has successfully negotiated market opportunities and regulated hygienic conditions for exporting crops and related products, including rice, corn, cassava, bananas, watermelons and sweet potatoes to China and another 24 crops as part of an opium replacement project. At present, China has issued barcodes for 16 crops from Laos that can be exported to China, Dr Lien explained.

Currently, the ministry is coordinating with the General Administration of Customs of China and drafting conditions and regulations for the export of dried tobacco leaves, passion fruit and oranges.

Furthermore, the two sides are also preparing documentation on market openings for durian, longan, dragon fruit, jackfruit and Job’s tear, he said.

source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/sub-new/Business/Business_Govt146.php