The Belarusian government has outlined a timeline for achieving full domestic self-sufficiency in fresh tomatoes, including during the off-season. Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleiko presented the updated targets on 27 November in a report to the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic.
Shuleiko stated that Belarusian producers already meet the country's full demand for fresh cucumbers, but tomato supply remains insufficient, particularly in winter. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food show that domestic growers covered 37 per cent of winter tomato demand in 2023. Earlier this year, the ministry announced plans to raise this share to 86 per cent by 2027.
Shuleiko's report projected a more accelerated timeline. He expects off-season tomato demand in 2027/2028 to be fully met and to reach 118 per cent, or up to 20.3 thousand tons. Achieving this output requires increased volumes from greenhouse facilities. Shuleiko also reported plans to double the production of leafy greens in the same period. Leafy greens include dill, lettuce, spinach, parsley, sorrel, rocket, spring onions, and basil.
Fruit production is also expected to expand. The area of young orchards increased by around one thousand hectares this year. Government projections estimate fruit and berry output will reach 265 thousand tons by 2030. By that time, new storage facilities and upgrades to older units are planned for agricultural organisations.
According to official statistics, large-scale commercial producers supply about 79 per cent of Belarus's agricultural output. Personal subsidiary plots account for 18 per cent, while private peasant farms supply roughly 3 per cent. Previous explanations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food regarding why Belarusian products are sometimes priced above imports attributed the difference to climate-related production factors.
The government's updated targets centre on expanding controlled-environment vegetable production and scaling orchard capacity to reduce reliance on imported supply during periods when domestic output typically declines.
Source: Telegraf
