Republic

This year’s gross grain yield to reach 7 million tonnes in Belarus, Vasily Pavlovsky says

This year’s gross grain yield will make up not less than 7 million tonnes in Belarus, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foodstuffs of Belarus Vasily Pavlovsky has told reporters today. “Agricultural companies are going to meet the target set out by the Government. Belarus’ agricultural industry will ensure food security of the country – the demand for bread grain and grain forage will be completely satisfied. Belarus will not purchase grain abroad, just 150 thousand tonnes of durum wheat, which Belarus does not cultivate,” Vasily Pavlovsky underlined. According to him, the harvesting campaign is nearing completion. As of August 14 Belarusian agricultural companies harvested 2 million 135 thousand hectares of the area under grain crops. Some 5% is left to be harvested. Three regions, namely the Minsk, Grodno and Mogilev oblasts, have harvested more than 1 million tonnes of grain each. “We expect two more regions, the Brest and Vitebsk oblasts, to reach the same result. At the same time about 18% of grain crops was affected by the heatwave in the Gomel oblast that is why the region will harvest around 930 thousand tonnes of grain which is less than in 2006, Vasily Pavlovsky said. The Vitebsk and Mogilev oblasts are set to finish harvesting by August 18 or August 20 at the latest. According to Vasily Pavlovsky, the northern regions of Belarus will manage on their own without any outside assistance. Agricultural companies help private households with harvesting. They are expected to harvest 600 thousand tonnes of grain. Thus Belarus’ gross grain yield can reach 7.6 million tonnes. The Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs of Belarus is satisfied with the quality of grain this year. The state grain purchase plan will be completed in 2007, Vasily Pavlovsky noted. According to him, this year Belarus will also export high-quality grain. Belsemena Co. is working on concluding contracts with Moldova, Ukraine and Russia. According to the preliminary estimates, this year Belarus can export two thousand tonnes of grain seeds.