MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) - Belarus can boost supplies to the countries facing food shortages amid the pandemic, Belarus' Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Krupko said during a videoconference working meeting of the EAEU Council on Agricultural Policy, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus' state agricultural policy takes into account the trends in the food market both inside and outside the country. Our country, which has good capacities in agriculture, can increase food supplies to the countries experiencing food problems amid the pandemic,” Ivan Krupko said.
According to him, this year Belarus maintains a momentum in the production of agricultural goods, domestic supplies and trade. In January-April, agricultural production in farms of all categories rose by 5.2%. The production of milk increased by 5.6%, that of cattle and poultry – by 5.7%. Plant production went up by 14%. The increased production of raw materials secured positive dynamics in processing and the production of ready-made food products. In Q1 2020, the production of staples, beverages and tobacco products rose by 6% year-on-year. “We predict that positive trends in food production will remain in place and, hence, we will have sufficient resources to supply products both to the domestic market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and beyond,” the minister said.
Belarus' export of agricultural products and foodstuffs to the EAEU countries amounted to $1.2 billion in Q1 2020, up by 4.4%. The exported products included almost all categories of goods, ranging from meat and dairy group to drinks and confectionery.
Ivan Krupko also spoke about measures taken in Belarus to ensure food security in the light of the pandemic. “Presidential decree No.143 of 24 April 2020 laid down a set of measures to support the economy in terms of taxation, labor relations, regulation of the currency market, and renting, which will help mitigate the impact of the global epidemiological situation on the country's economy. Besides, Belarus has introduced measures to ensure steady supplies to the domestic market and avoid a surge in prices for food staples,” he pointed out.
“Belarus is taking an active part in the efforts to reach collective decisions of the EAEU member states that are aimed at coping with the aftermath of the pandemic. Close cooperation between the agriculture ministries via the Eurasian Economic Commission will facilitate a more efficient coordination of joint activities to ensure food security in the EAEU, adopt urgent measures to deal with negative factors that emerge in the global economy, as well as draw up a long-term policy in manufacturing and marketing of agricultural products,” Ivan Krupko added.
During the working meeting, the agriculture ministers of the EAEU member states discussed measures, principles, and approaches to ensuring food security as well as prospects for development of organic farming in the EAEU.
