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Belarus projects 2018 crop harvest at level of 2017
MINSK, 2 June (BelTA) – Belarusian agrarians project 2018 crop harvest at least at the level of 2017, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy said in an interview to the Selskaya Gazeta newspaper, BelTA informs.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions in 2018, spring field works began two weeks later than last year. At the same time due to well-organized work on the ground, the delay was reduced. As of 28 May, spring sowing was almost complete: 99% of the plan on an area of 2.5 million hectares, or 105% to the level of 2017. This rate of work, and the fact that more fertilizers were applied give us the hopes for a result that will be not worse than in 2017,” said the deputy prime minister.
Mikhail Rusy said that higher temperatures in May made it possible for fodder ripening and the development of basic crops. “This will enable us to forecast a more complete second grass harvest and earlier terms for grain harvesting. The agrarians will have more time to prepare for the autumn sowing,” he said.
The vice premier stated that spring field works were funded from the budget, bank loans, including preferential loans, and also own funds of agricultural enterprises. In January-May, Br946 million was allocated for the purchase of fuels and lubricants, mineral fertilizers, plant protection products, seeds, repair and maintenance of agricultural machinery, and liming of acidic soils.
“New approaches to provide state support to the agro-industrial complex were identified in 2015. The budget finances state-wide activities on state programs in the agro-industrial complex. Funds are also allocated to agricultural organizations in the form of payments per unit of sold products, subsidies to current activities, subventions for carrying out measures to maintain soil fertility. The budget acts as a source of funding spring field works,” the vice premier said. He added that there is a tendency to reduce the state support of this sector. "For example, the state support for 1 hectare of agricultural lands was $172 in 2005, $149 in 2011, and $76 in 2017,” Mikhail Rusy said.
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