Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy of Belarus and the main component of the country's agro-industrial complex (AIC). In the republic there are more than 1450 agricultural organizations, above 3265 farms, about 1 million personal subsidiary farms. The major task of the agro-industrial complex was and remains large-commodity production. Agricultural organizations, including farms, produce about 80% of the output of the agrarian sector, and households (personal subsidiary and other) produce about 20%.

In order to increase consumer confidence, Belarusian manufacturers ensure the quality and safety of food products. Technical re-equipment of organizations of the meat and dairy industry allowed certifying in 82 divisions (21 in the meat industry and 61 in the dairy).

In terms of production of the main types of agricultural products, Belarus is one of the leaders among the countries of the post-Soviet space. Production of agricultural products per capita corresponds to the level of developed countries, and in many positions (production of potatoes, sugar beet, meat, milk) exceeds the indicators achieved in the CIS countries. For example, in the production of milk per capita (785 kg), the Republic of Belarus occupies one of the leading positions in the world and is ahead of such countries as the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the United States, and China. Food imports account for less than 10% of total consumption.

AIC enterprises work both in the domestic and foreign markets. Agricultural products are supplied to 35 countries: about 70% are exported to Russia, about 13% to other CIS countries, 14% to non-CIS countries. Some of species have significant export potential. Belarus is among the 15  world's largest exporters of dairy products, and in terms of buttermilk, yogurt, kefir occupies the fifth place in the world ranking, the seventh in butter, the eighth in whey, milk and condensed and dried cream.

Belarus is also among the 25 countries leading in meat exports. In relation to them, it occupies the thirteenth rating position in the supply of frozen beef, the fourteenth in the supply of chilled beef, and the sixteenth in the supply of poultry meat. In addition, Belarus is in the top five among the 23 leading manufacturers of flax fiber.

In order to create conditions for the sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex, the State Program for the Development of Agrarian Business in the Republic of Belarus for 2016–2020 was adopted in 2016. The implementation of the program in 2016 provided a positive trend in the production of agricultural products. By the level of 2015, 103.4% of products were produced in farms, including 106.0% in crop production and 101.2% in livestock production. In comparison with 2015, the production of sugar beet increased 1.3 times (4.3 million tons), vegetables 12.2% (1891.3 thousand tons), flax fiber 102% (41.3 thousand tons). There was an increase in exports of main products in comparison with 2015. At the end of 2016, the state order for the supply of grain and sugar beet was fully executed; the amount of profit from the sale of agricultural products increased 6 times and amounted to 313.3 million rubles.

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