MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) – On 1 February 2021 the Council of Ministers passed Decree No. 59 to approve the Agricultural Business state program for 2021-2025, BelTA informs citing the National Legal Internet Portal.
The program seeks to increase the competitiveness of domestic agricultural products and foodstuffs, to unlock unexploited export potential, to promote environmentally friendly agriculture with a view to strengthening the country's food security, and to ensure adequate nutrition and an opportunity to live a healthy life for the country's citizens. The program is broken down into nine subprograms, namely crop production, seed production, animal husbandry and breeding, fishery, land reclamation, flood control measures to protect agricultural land, general guidelines enabling smooth operation of the agricultural industry and support for small-scale farming.
There are plans to increase the efficiency of agricultural production by introducing resource-saving technologies that reduce material and labor costs. In order to maintain the competitiveness of Belarusian foodstuffs in the domestic and foreign markets, a lot of effort will be invested in improving product quality. The physical infrastructure of the agricultural industry will be improved, existing production facilities will be upgraded and new competitive companies will be set up, the agricultural complex will be digitalized, breeding and genetics programs will be supported to promote sustainable agriculture. The state program is also aimed at preserving, restoring and increasing land fertility, promoting sustainable use of agricultural land and creating a conducive environment for more entrepreneurs to start businesses in the sector.
If the output targets are achieved and the prices for agricultural products are high enough, the export of foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials is expected to increase by 21.3% in 2025 year-on-year (up to $7 billion). The state program also seeks to keep the return on sales in agriculture at 10% at the minimum by 2026.
More than Br284 billion is to be earmarked to finance the program.
The resolution comes into force after its official publication and applies to economic relations that started on 1 January 2021.
