Hanoi (VNA) - A host of measures have beensuggested for the agriculture sector to reach the target of 40 billion USD in exportrevenue this year, given the impact of COVID-19 and now natural disasters.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Agro Processing and Market Development Authorityunder the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development (MARD), said COVID-19 has seriously affected the export offarm produce. Maintaining growth would be a major success, he said.

In the first nine months of the year, Toan noted, farmproduce exports totalled 30.05 billion USD, up 1.6 percent year-on-year, and wereabout 3.9 billion USD in October.

Eight product groups saw have posted export revenue in excess of 1 billion USD, whilesix others export more than 2 billion USD worth of goods.

Vietnam also shipped 4.8 million tonnes of rice in thefirst nine months, earning 2.4 billion USD - down 0.8 percent year-on-year in volumebut up 11.8 percent in value.

Figures are expected to continue to rise thanks to theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), according to Vice President of the VietnamFood Association Do Hao Nam.

Meanwhile, wood and furniture exports hit 8.48 billionUSD in the nine-month period, an increase of 12.4 percent year-on-year.

President of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association,Do Xuan Loc, said the sector will continue to expand in the future, especially inthe EU thanks to the EVFTA.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development PhungDuc Tien said that along with greater demand amid the pandemic, a key factor inrising agricultural exports is improvements in the quality of farm produce.

Orders from the EU have risen since August 1 when the EVFTAtook effect, he said, adding that entering into such a selective market will pavethe way for local farm produce to penetrate into other markets.

Over the remainder of the year, natural disasters and especiallythe pandemic are expected to continue to be complex issues, but the agriculturesector has still set a goal of exports exceeding 10 billion USD, bringing theannual total to 40 billion USD.

Authorised agencies and businesses are both working hardto reach the target.

Thai Huong, President of the Council of Strategy atthe TH Group, said it has put into operation a fresh fruit processing facility witha capacity of 300 tonnes a day.

Meanwhile, Director of the MARD’s Department of Crop ProductionNguyen Nhu Cuong said it will work closely with localities to provide seeds to farmersto stabilise production after the recent flooding, while supporting northern localitiesto step up the production of fruits and vegetables for export.

Twelve Vietnamese firms, meanwhile, have received licencesto export aquatic products to Saudi Arabia, while such exports to the US are forecastto continue heading upwards.

Toan said the department will focus on promoting the exportof strong aquatic products over the remainder of the year.

Tien said the MARD will coordinate closely with the Ministryof Industry and Trade to remain abreast of the situation in major markets such asChina, Japan, the US, and the EU, to support businesses.

He recommended that exporters clearly understand the commitmentsin the FTAs Vietnam has signed, especially those relating to quality, origin, andfood safety./.