Milk, meat, and grain production per employee in Belarus has increased almost 5-fold since 1990, the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food told a BELTA correspondent.
"Compared to 1990, milk, meat, and grain production per employee has increased almost 5-fold, and sugar beet production by more than 12-fold," the press service stated.
As a result, revenue from the sale of agricultural products per employee reached Br8.9 thousand in 2011, an increase of 2.2 times compared to 2009. In 2017, this figure was estimated at Br38 thousand, a further increase of 4.3 times compared to 2011. The implementation of modern technologies in production has significantly optimised the number of employees in the country's agricultural organisations. Currently, about 272,000 people are employed in this sector, whereas in 1990, the workforce numbered over 1 million.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food recalled that at the time of the USSR's collapse, Belarus produced more meat and milk per capita than Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, and one-third more grain than the European Union countries. Belarus held world leadership in potato and flax fibre production. By 1995, the achieved positions were significantly lost. In 2001, the level of agricultural production compared to 1990 was approximately 50%. A similar reduction in the production potential of the agricultural complex occurred. The wear and tear of technical equipment exceeded 70%.
"Under these circumstances, effective decisions were required to stabilise the situation, prevent further production decline, and ensure the country's food security. A programmatic development path was chosen for the Belarusian agro-industrial complex, through the progressive creation of legal and financial conditions for production growth, strengthening its technological level, production infrastructure, and improving organisational forms of management," the press service emphasised. Documents such as the Programme for the Improvement of the Agro-Industrial Complex for 2001-2005, the State Programme for the Revival and Development of Rural Areas for 2005-2010, and the State Programme for Sustainable Rural Development for 2011-2015 were implemented.
"Undoubtedly, the invested funds are paying off with increased milk and meat production, and growth in export earnings. At the established production base, the gross milk increase in 2011 compared to 1991 amounted to 168 thousand tons. And from 2012, taking into account the forecast for the current year, agricultural enterprises will increase its production by another 1.14 million tons. Moreover, the growth in milk production will be achieved not only due to an increase in the cow herd but also due to the productivity of the dairy herd," the Ministry of Agriculture and Food explained. If in 1990, an average of 3220 kg of milk was obtained from each cow, then in 2011 – 4521 kg. This year, there is a real opportunity to obtain more than five tons of milk per cow.
The production of cattle and poultry growing products also shows a stable growth dynamic. By 2011, the country had already produced 1437 thousand tons of cattle and poultry, which exceeded the production level of 1990 by 22 thousand tons. This year, it is expected to produce around 1737 thousand tons of products, with an increase of another 300 thousand tons compared to the 2011 level.
In addition, the press service noted that the funds invested in improving the material and technical base have ensured a fundamentally new technological level of agricultural production, thanks to which the need for both material and labor resources has been significantly reduced. At the time of Belarus's establishment as a sovereign state, more than 1.3 million tons of diesel fuel and 672 thousand tons of gasoline were used for agricultural production. By 2011, the consumption of these resources had decreased to 767 thousand tons of diesel fuel and 113 thousand tons of gasoline. This year, the entire volume of agricultural products will be produced with a saving of 83 thousand tons of diesel fuel and 55 thousand tons of gasoline compared to the 2011 level.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food also reported that in 2016, Belarus produced 785 kg of grain, 630 kg of potatoes, 123 kg of meat, 752 kg of milk, and 386 eggs per capita, which exceeds the level of developed countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. The country also holds leading positions among the CIS countries, ahead of Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.
"The achieved level of agricultural production allows the Belarusian agro-industrial complex to increase its export potential, as well as guarantee the country's food security by meeting the needs of processing organizations for raw materials and the population for basic food products," stated the press service of the agrarian department.
News of Belarus (BELTA)