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Minister: Africa is very interested in Belarus’ agricultural technologies

Sergei Bartosh. Screenshot from video by ONT

MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – African countries are very interested in Belarusian agricultural technologies, Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Minister Sergei Bartosh said in an interview with the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.

“Africa is primarily focused on the development of agriculture. This is a priority. There are good lands there that yield good harvests. True, African landscape is characterized by terrain irregularities, there are no vast stretches of plain land as we have here. Yet, they have a warm climate throughout the year and you can harvest crops up to four times a year, and this is important,” said Sergei Bartosh.

The need to ensure food security prompted African countries, including Equatorial Guinea, to consider closer cooperation with Belarus. First of all, this is about technology. “We will work together to cultivate land and grow agricultural crops, mostly potatoes, vegetables, corn. We agreed that we would invite specialists from Equatorial Guinea for training on a paid basis, we will help create a laboratory, after that a group of engineers will come here. We will sell equipment, seeds. Next, we will teach them how to use mineral fertilizers. We plan to supply equipment, fertilizers, and plant protection agents. They will be able to get a good harvest, and we will have regular consumers,” the minister noted.

Separately, he mentioned cooperation with Zimbabwe. “They are telling all African countries that they have started exporting grain thanks to our help. Today the first deliveries of milk powder are under discussion. We are negotiating the construction of a new plant to recover milk powder and make dairy products,” noted Sergei Bartosh.

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