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Belarus among world’s largest producers of flax fiber, rye, cranberries

MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – Belarus is among the world’s largest producers of flax fiber, rye, and cranberries. The relevant statistics was published on the website of the National Statistics Committee of Belarus ahead of Agriculture and Processing Industry Workers’ Day, BelTA has learned.

According to the data of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Belarus placed 3rd in terms of flax fiber output (in quantity terms) and 6th in terms of rye output. The country rounded out the top ten of the world’s largest producers of cranberries. Belarus also ranked 11th by potato output, 12th by buckwheat output, and 14th by sugar beet output. Belarus was 15th and 16th in terms of production of strawberries and oat respectively.

Belarus is the CIS leader in per capita output of potatoes, sugar beet, meat, and milk.  Belarus ranked 2nd in the CIS in terms of per capita output of eggs,and 5th – grain and vegetables.

In 2018, Belarus’ agricultural and food export totaled $5.3 billion, which was up by 6.2% over 2017. Belarus shipped agricultural and food products to 96 countries. Export to Russia accounted for around 80% of the total export. The top five export markets also included Kazakhstan (5.9% of Belarus’ total agricultural and food export), Ukraine (2.3%), Lithuania (1.8%), and China (1.6%).

Agricultural output accounted for some 6-7% of Belarus’ GDP. The agricultural sector employed over 8% of Belarus’ workforce. In 2018, agricultural enterprises of all kinds made Br18.8 billion worth of agricultural products.

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