Vietnam's export revenues of farm, forestry and seafood products reached 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 17.8 percent, according to a local agricultural agency.

Of the 4.7 billion dollars, farm products earned 2.6 billion dollars, up 21 percent; forestry items one billion dollars, up 19.5 percent, and seafood 1.1 billion dollars, up 13.6 percent, said the Planning Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The ministry is helping localities, enterprises and farmers nationwide continue to strengthen food safety and hygiene in all phases, from cultivation to processing and preservation.

Vietnam is estimated to reap over 13.6 billion dollars from exporting farm, forestry and seafood products in 2008, up from nearly 11 billion dollars in 2007, according to the Import-Export Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.