To reach these targets, MARD will focus on increasing the proportion of value-added products, reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing the product quality and food safety, reports VASEP.
By 2020, the part of value-added seafood products in Viet Nam total production will increase by 20 per cent compared to the current level. Post-harvest losses in the agricultural and fishery sectors are expected to decrease by 50 per cent.
Lower post-harvest losses
Currently, Viet Nam loses 20 per cent of its marine catches per year due to poor post-harvest conservation. The rate will be reduced to 10 per cent by 2020 by upgrading logistic services in fisheries and at fishing ports. It is important to install modern equipments and cold stores on distant fishing boats to keep fresh raw fish. Purchasing services at sea are also needed to rapidly bring fish to ports to ensure the quality of raw materials.
Efficient use of by-products
Another objective of the proposal is to invest in modern technology and equipment in order to treat and efficiently use agricultural and fish by-products to produce high value items.
In the fishery industry, fish by-products will be used to process collagen, glucosamine, fish meal and fish oil used in food production and other sectors.
The newly-adopted proposal also creates favourable conditions for producers, processors and traders in agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors to build up their brand name and credibility, which are linked with geological indications. By 2020, 40 – 50 per cent of Vietnamese processors and exporters are expected to have well-known brand names in the EU, the US and Japan.
