The Head of the Central Office for Crop Farming of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, Nikolai Leshik, has sketched out the state of the country's food security. Speaking about potatoes, Leshik remarked that domestic demand is fully satisfied. As much as 15-20% of the output is used to satisfy needs of the population while the rest is sold. Thus, about 300,000 tons of Belarusian potatoes is exported every year. The areas under different crops have not changed substantially in comparison with last year's. One can say the population is fully supplied with vegetables.
Leshik claims that Belarus also grows about 170,000 tons of apples. Active work is also in progress to develop apple varieties and improve the taste of this fruit. “According to our calculations, we will have to plant another 2,000 intensive orchards in order to fully supply the population with apples. Apart from that, it is also necessary to modernize storage facilities in order to extend the storage term of the fruits,” he remarked.
Nikolai Leshik added that the niche of stone fruit farming (apricots, peaches, and so on) remains open. Work has been in progress for the last two years to increase areas under blueberries and blueberry production. Blueberries are popular in neighboring countries but there are also plans to satisfy the domestic demand. At the same time work is in progress to grow sunflowers, soybeans, and nut-fruited crops.
Source: eng.belta.by