MINSK, 16 November (BelTA) - Belarus is the CIS leader in terms of per capita production of potatoes (632kg in 2015) meat (121kg) and milk (743kg), eggs (402). The National Statistical Committee posted this information on its website ahead of the Day of Agriculture and Processing Industry, BelTA has learned.
In terms of per capita grain production Belarus (912kg) is third after Ukraine (1,400kg) and Kazakhstan (1,064kg).
The positive dynamics in agricultural production continues this year. In January-October 2016 the agricultural output increased by 3.8% as against the same period last year in comparable prices.
As of 1 November the agricultural organizations produced 7 million tonnes of grain with an average yield of 33.2 centners per hectare. The production of potatoes was 916,200 tonnes with an average yield of 250 centners per hectare as against 215 centners last year. Vegetable production went up by 11.7% over the same period a year earlier to total 191,900 tonnes, with an average yield of 271 centners per hectare (216 centers as of 1 November last year). Livestock and poultry industries reported the output of 1.395 million tonnes (in live weight), up 1.3% as against January-October 2015. The production of milk edged up 1.8% to 5.717 million tonnes, that of eggs by 0.7% to 2,404.7 million.
Agricultural lands in Belarus occupy an area of 8.6 million hectares, or nearly 41% of the total territory, including 5.7 million hectares of arable land, or 27%. The domestic agriculture industry employs approximately 8% the total number of people employed in the economy, produces 7% of the gross domestic product. Over the past 5 years the agricultural output in farms of all categories has climbed up by 8.8%: crop production went up by 5.2% and animal husbandry by 10.2%.
The Day of Agriculture and Processing Industry was instituted in 1995 by decree No. 454 and is marked on the third Sunday of November. In 2016 it will be celebrated on 20 November.
