MINSK, 16 June (BelTA) - Belarus has enough resources to meet the domestic demand for food and to to meet export targets, the head of the Main Department for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, Aleksei Bogdanov, said at the International Agricultural Online Forum, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus, like many countries around the world, has faced the problem of coronavirus infection and has been taking all necessary measures to ensure the health of citizens and the food security of the state. The country maintains the positive dynamics in the agricultural production, the provision of the domestic market and trade. Thus, in January-May of this year, farms of all categories increased the output by 4.1%,” Aleksei Bogdanov said.
According to him, the output of milk surged by 5.1% as against January-May 2019, that of livestock and poultry by 5.3%. The increase in the production of raw materials has led to the positive dynamics in the processing and production of finished foodstuffs. In January-May of 2020, the manufacture of dairy products increased: butter - by 4.2%, cheese - by 8.4%, whole milk products - by 6.1%, milk powder - by 10.7%. Meat and by-products production went up by 9.1%, including beef by 9%, pork by 9.6% and canned meat by 13.1%. Belarusian enterprises made 24,800 tonnes of cereal products (an increase of 26.6%).
"We forecast that the positive trends in food production will continue. We have sufficient resources to meet domestic market needs and ensure export supplies. The agricultural output and export figures over the past four months testify to the fact. The export amounted to $1.8 billion, up 5.6% over January-April 2019,” said Aleksei Bogdanov.
Export of milk and dairy products increased to $778 million (up 8.4%), that of meat and meat products to $320.1 million (up 13.9%), fish and fish products to $100.3 million (up 5.3%), vegetable oils to $88.2 million (up 6.9%), water and alcoholic beverages to $62.4 million (up 0.3%), potatoes to $19.6 million. Food products were sold to 92 countries (83 countries in 2019).
Speaking about the forecasts, the head of the department said that at the end of the year the gross output rate in farms of all categories is projected at 104.5% over 2019. Plans are in place to export over $5.7 billion worth of agricultural products and foodstuffs (up 4.2%).
“At the same time, there are issues related to the negative processes in the world economy affected by falling oil prices, devaluation of national currencies in target markets, and also the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the main negative factors include reduced household income and, consequently, decreased purchasing capacity, a 10-35% drop in prices for dairy products, while global milk production increased by 2.8% in January-March, disrupted logistics chains in supplies to distant countries, and intensified competition with local food manufacturers and transnational corporations,” Aleksei Bogdanov said.
According to him, in order to alleviate the impact of these negative processes on Belarus' food export, the Agriculture and Food Ministry together with regional executive committees is working to redirect supplies of raw materials for the production of more marketable and profit-making goods. For example, a growing demand for goods with a long shelf life leads to an increase in the production of canned meat and dairy products, oil, ultra-pasteurized milk and milk powder and a falling demand for cheese is associated with the increased production of traditional whole-milk goods (kefir, sour cream, quark, and so on). The ministry is constantly monitoring prices in foreign markets to find the most profitable ones for Belarusian enterprises, Aleksei Bogdanov stressed.
“The national agricultural policy and measures adopted in Belarus help take into account all changes in food markets, both domestic and foreign. This is why our country, having a great capacity in agriculture, can ensure its own food security and keep increasing supplies to countries that are facing the difficulties due to the pandemic,” he added.