MINSK, 28 September (BelTA) - Belarus plans to ramp up the manufacture of meat products to 2 million tonnes by 2025, Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister - Director of the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision at the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry Ivan Smilgin told reporters on the sidelines of the meat industry forum in Minsk on 28 September, BelTA has learned.
Belarusian meat and dairy products account for 99-99.9% of meat sales in the country. "We ensure the food security of Belarus. At the moment, we produce 835kg of milk per capita. This is 3-4 times higher than the demand. Manufacture of meat products per capita is 135kg, which is 34.6% higher than the level of consumption. Under the Agrarian Business program, we are expected to ramp up the manufacture of meat products to 2 million tonnes by 2025. In 2021, this figure was 1.8 million tonnes," the deputy minister said.
In January-July Belarus' agricultural exports amounted to almost $4.4 billion, up by more than 26% year-on-year. "The geography of supplies is growing from year to year. Last year, we exported dairy products to 50 countries, meat products to 30 countries. Therefore, despite the sanctions, there are no problems in terms of exports," Ivan Smilgin emphasized.
The international meat industry forum in Minsk focuses on animal husbandry, poultry farming, pig breeding, veterinary medicine and cooperation of agricultural enterprises. The forum has brought together 360 delegates.
