MOGILEV, 15 January (BelTA) – Private farmers in Mogilev Oblast represent a reliable pillar of agribusiness in the region, BelTA learned from Mogilev Oblast Governor Leonid Zayats at a press conference.
The governor said: “The development of private agricultural enterprises continues in Mogilev Oblast. Their performance has increased greatly in comparison with last decade. The rising number of private farmers means that new jobs are being created. In the future we will be able to consider small enterprises as substantial and reliable support for the regional agribusiness.”
Equal conditions have been enabled for private farmers and state-run agricultural enterprises as far as sales of products and available preferences are concerned. An average private farmer owns 72 hectares of farmland. The number in Mogilev Oblast stands at 123ha. It is the highest figure among the regions of Belarus, Leonid Zayats noted.
Mogilev Oblast is home to 472 private farmers, who use 41,400ha of land, including 30,900ha of arable land. The amount of land used by private farmers has increased by more than 40% in comparison with 2010.
Private farmers primarily focus on crop farming (90% of their output). They use 3.3% of farmland in Mogilev Oblast, yet in 2018 their share in the regional harvest of potatoes was 8.9%. They also accounted for 7.5% of the vegetables and 5.4% of the cereals harvested in Mogilev Oblast. Since 2010 the share of private farmers in potato production has increased by 5.6 times, in vegetable production by 3.1 times, and in cereals production by 1.5 times.
Private farmers also accounted for 33% of the wool made in the region. Their share in milk production remains small – 0.9% as well as their share in cattle and poultry production for slaughter – 0.3%.
Government programs, which help modernize and improve the production of agricultural crops, represent an important factor for the development of private farmers. According to the Mogilev Oblast governor, a number of programs are being implemented in the region to support private farmers. As much as Br1.4 million was allocated by the Mogilev Oblast budget in 2018 as part of an agribusiness program. Apart from that, 11 farmers received loans to the tune of Br797,700 from the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus as part of an SME support program.
