MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Vladimir Grakun told a press conference on 5 April what seeds will be used during the spring sowing season in the country, BelTA has learned.
“Some 80% of areas for cereals and leguminous crops will be sown with domestic seeds. Domestic seeds will also be used to sow more than 90% of the winter rye areas. Belarusian selection shows good results during winter rape sowing as well,” Vladimir Grakun said. The Belarusian climate conditions however make it impossible to produce sugar beet seeds, so they need to be purchased. According to the deputy minister, Belarus is 100% provided with such seeds. The main suppliers are Russia, Serbia and some European Union countries.
As for corn seeds, 32,000 tonnes of such seeds are needed to sow 1,100,000 hectares. “There are two corn plants in Belarus – they are in Mozyr and Ivatsevichi. Some 22,000 tonnes of corn seeds have been produced this year. The remaining 10,000 tonnes are imported mainly from Russia,” the deputy minister said.
