MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) - Belarus approved the agricultural production targets for 2016. Such a decision is contained in Resolution No.1037 of the Council of Ministers as from 14 December 2015, BelTA learned from the press service of the government.
In 2016 Belarus is set to produce 9.2 million tonnes of grain, 1.4 million tonnes of potatoes, 4.8 million tonnes of sugar beets, 518,600 tonnes of vegetables, 113,400 tonnes of fruit and berries.
According to the document, the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the regional authorities are expected to take steps to ensure the production of 6.4 million tonnes of fodder grain: Brest Oblast is expected to produce 1.1 million tonnes, Vitebsk Oblast – 910,000 tonnes, Gomel Oblast – 980,000 tonnes, Grodno Oblast – 1.2 million tonnes, Minsk Oblast – 1.5 million tonnes and Mogilev Oblast – 761,000 tonnes.
The resolution also approved the targets for the purchase, storage and application of mineral fertilizers, micronutrients, crop protecting agents and calcitic materials by agricultural companies, flax-processing mills and other entities engaged in agro-industrial production, except for individuals having personal land plots. Diesel and motor petrol purchase targets were also approved.
The Food and Agriculture Ministry and the oblast executive committees were instructed to ensure the readiness of at least 95% of agricultural machinery for spring fieldwork before 25 March 2016, for silage storage before 15 May 2016 and for grain harvesting before 20 June 2016.
The resolution will come into force on 1 January 2016.
