Opinions & Interviews

VOLKOVYSK, 16 March (BelTA) – The quality and safety of dairy products are under continuous scrutiny in Belarus, Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats, BelTA has learned.

Leonid Zayats participated in a workshop on the promising areas and ways to improve the quality of milk produced in Grodno Oblast.

“The dairy industry is one of the most important sectors of our agricultural industry. The quality of dairy products receives increased attention in Belarus. Today we not only satisfy our domestic needs but also sell a huge part of finished products in the markets of third countries. In this case, our main task is to ensure the safety of products,” Leonid Zayats said.

During the seminar, the participants got acquainted with the laboratory and other equipment which is used to determine milk quality, medical and sanitary measures at the Yanovo farm of OAO Khatkovtsy and also the inspection of milk supplied by agricultural enterprises at OAO Bellakt. Other practice-oriented issues were examined as well.

“Today we saw the new technologies and approaches to the production of milk. We saw the methods that can be implemented at any farm in the shortest possible time to ensure quality control,” Leonid Zayats said. Active work is underway to develop the system of electronic veterinary certification in Belarus. “We want to connect our electronic certificates with the certificates of the Russian Federation. The experts of the two countries are working closely to make sure our products are accompanied by electronic veterinary certificates,” the minister said.

The seminar was organized on the initiative of the State Control Committee of Grodno Oblast in cooperation with the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee and the Agriculture and Food Ministry.

“Today, it is important to equip people with knowledge, experience, and skills so that they do not make mistakes. The main objective of the seminar was to work out cooperation between the milk producer and the milk processor at all stages in order to achieve high quality products,” said Chairman of the State Control Committee of Grodno Oblast Anatoly Dorozhko. In his words, successful dairy farming contributes to the agricultural sector in general and its individual enterprises. Products of higher quality mean a better financial standing of both milk producing and processing enterprises.

“The quality of any product, including milk, should be a priority for the manufacturer. High-quality raw material means a high-quality, safe product with a long shelf life. Quality products also mean new sales markets,” Grodno Oblast First Vice Governor Ivan Zhuk added. He stressed that in 2018 the region plans to increase the share of its Extra variety milk to 60% of its total dairy production. Plans are in place to boost the output.