HANOI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese agricultural sector benefited from 30 official development assistance (ODA) programs and projects worth 313 million U.S. dollars in the Jan.-Oct. period, Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    Vietnamese agricultural sector has received massive support from donor countries, international organizations and individuals, said Agricultural Minister Cao Duc Phat at a meeting here on Tuesday.

    The meeting drew participants of donors and foreign investors to discuss measures in order to develop Vietnam's agricultural sector and rural area.

    Phat said Vietnamese agricultural sector has faced many challenges this year, including unfavorable weather conditions, outbreaks of cattle and poultry diseases and high production costs.

    But the minister said that, in spite of these difficulties, Vietnam's agricultural sector is expected to post a growth rate of 3.6 percent in 2008, compared with 3.4 percent last year.

    Participants at the meeting discussed policies regarding the development of human resources in rural areas, farmland management, and food security for remote regions and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities.