MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – Belarus will produce sufficient quantities of food to meet the domestic market and to export, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Krupko told reporters on the sidelines of the Belarus Dairy Export Forum in Minsk on 20 October, BelTA has learned.
"In January-August 2021, the animal husbandry actually performed as well as last year. However, due to bad weather, we underperformed in terms of grain crops. We are now harvesting corn for grain and are set to compensate about 50% for the shortfall in spiked cereals. In terms of crop production, we will not be able to reach the high results of 2020 this year. But we will produce sufficient quantities of food to meet the domestic demand and to export. Production of milk and meat and meat products will be higher than the domestic demand, by 150% and 43% respectively," Ivan Krupko said.
He also noted that in January-August 2021Belarus exported food worth $4.1 billion, posting $400.3 million in foreign exchange earnings more year-on-year (an increase of 10.8%). "This shows that the industry functions well and has been ramping up its export capacities," the minister stressed.
"2020 was a record high year for grass feed. This year, the forecast is about 200,000 tonnes of feed units less. But taking into account the carry-over stock of 2020, the livestock industry will be fully provided with grass feed to last the winter period, "Ivan Krupko assured.
