MINSK, 12 September (BelTA) – Belarus will harvest plenty of potatoes this year, sufficient volumes will be available. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the ceremony to open the reconstructed historical and cultural complex Loshitsa in Minsk on 12 September, BelTA has learned.
While talking to construction workers and employees of the complex, the head of state touched upon the matter of the harvesting campaign. He remarked that the harvesting of cereals and headed crops had been virtually finished. This year’s harvest was projected at about 11 million tonnes. But according to the latest data, the figures will be even higher. About 9 million tonnes of grain including rapeseed have already been harvested. Maize harvesting is still in progress. There are plans to gather in about 2 million tonnes of maize. Thus, the total amount of grain will be about 11 million tonnes. “It is quite a lot. Few countries boast gathering so much grain per capita. It means we will have bread,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
There were shortages of potatoes in retail this spring. But plenty of potatoes have been grown to fully satisfy the population’s demand and export some. According to the president, the potato shortage situation has been analyzed, plenty of factors contributed to the shortage. “We know and will not allow it to repeat,” the head of state stressed. Upon Aleksandr Lukashenko’s instructions the area under potatoes has been increased. “This year’s harvest is good. We will have potatoes,” the president assured.