Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) – Belarus’ food exports will reach $4.9 billion at the end of 2017, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy said at the joint meeting of the parliament on 30 November, BelTA has learned.

“In 2017 food exports will reach $4.9 billion, up 3.5 times from 2005,” the deputy prime minister said. In his words, the agricultural and food exports accounted for to 18% of the country’s total exports in 2016, as against 8% in 2005. Belarus sells food products to 61 countries. About 60% of dairy and more than 30% of meat products were exported in 2016.

Mikhail Rusy stressed that export supplies are effective across all the major export positions. “This year the return on sales of butter, cheese and skimmed milk powder reaches 24-29%, those of beef - 11%. Belarus earns about $1,200 on the sale of one tonne of animal oil, $1,400 on the sale of one tonne of cheese, and about $450-570 – one tonne of skimmed and whole milk,” he said.

According to the vice premier, the food security of Belarus has been fully ensured since 2005. For such products as eggs, meat, milk, the level of the country’s self-sufficiency exceeds the needs 1.3-2.3 times. "The agricultural production per capita across almost all the major positions is higher than the recommended (medical) consumption standards,” said Mikhail Rusy.

A total of 785kg of grain, 630kg of potatoes, 123kg of meat, 752kg of milk, and 386 eggs were produced per capita last year. This exceeds the level of developed countries such as Germany, the UK and France. Belarus keeps the leading positions among the CIS countries, going ahead of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.