23 August, Tolochin District /Olga Belyavskaya - BELTA/. There will be no shortage of buckwheat in Belarus. This was stated today to journalists by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Vasily Pavlovsky, BELTA correspondent reports. The Deputy Minister noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food had developed measures in accordance with the government's instructions to fully provide the population with groats. These tasks have been communicated to the regions and adhered to. "We plan to harvest about 40 thousand tons of buckwheat grain, from which we will produce 25 thousand tons of groats," said Vasily Pavlovsky. "We will meet the demand declared by the Ministry of Trade." Buckwheat harvesting is already underway in the country's farms. If last year the yield of this crop was 10 centners/ha, then today it is 17 centners/ha. Agrarians are confident that the demand for buckwheat this year will be fully met. The Department of Grain Products has introduced additional capacities for processing buckwheat groats. "We will be supplied with our own groats," added the Deputy Minister. The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food also noted that a good potato harvest is expected this year. The most important thing for farmers is to preserve it until the next harvest. This year, new potato storage facilities with a capacity of 211 thousand tons are planned to be commissioned in the country. "By October 1, potatoes will be 100% in storage, this is the task set for us by the President," recalled Vasily Pavlovsky. -0-

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