Measures needed to increase Belarusian agricultural export

GORKI, 13 January (BelTA) – Radical measures are required to increase the export of agricultural products in Belarus, said First Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Nadezhda Kotkovets at the training seminar held for executives of Mogilev Oblast agricultural enterprises on 13 January.

In 2012 the Agriculture and Food Ministry is expected to export $1.7 billion worth of commodities, $195 million more than in 2011. The export grow rate is lower than last year’s and is supposed to be 111%. Nadezhda Kotkovets believes it is necessary to reduce the import growth rate by eight percentage points in comparison with 2011 to achieve the necessary balance of trade.

According to data available to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, in January-November 2011 organizations outside the Ministry’s system accounted for 44% of Belarus’ total pork export, 16% of butter export, 13% of cheese export, 20% of flour export, and a third of flax fiber export.

The official believes that diversifying the structure of meat exports and putting more effort into exporting products with a higher treatment degree will help increase export. “Meat-packing plants are now working as killing rooms. Boned meat accounts for less than 5% of export saying nothing of ready-made products,” she said.

She believes Belarus should export more of its traditional products such as potatoes, vegetables, seeds of potatoes, cereals and grass as well as pedigree cattle.

The Ministry will keep an eye on imports, too. According to Nadezhda Kotkovets, the mechanism of centralized purchasing is poorly used in the regions, resulting in major price variations.

Focusing on the main avenues of agribusiness development in 2012, a series of training seminars for executives of agricultural enterprises began in Belarus with Mogilev Oblast on 13 January.

Source: BELTA