The potato harvest in Belarus is projected to be 10-15% higher than last year, stated Leonid Marinich, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel, as reported by BELTA.
"This year is ideal for potatoes. Given the weather conditions, they have already ripened and are ready for harvesting. I believe that on average, the potato harvest will be 10-15% higher than last year," noted Leonid Marinich. He stated that leading farms are achieving yields of 600-700 centners per hectare.
Regarding the grain harvest, Leonid Marinich expressed confidence that it will be fully completed by the end of the current week. "Our tactic is one - not to slow down the harvesting pace, regardless of the weather conditions. The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee is already considering the possibility of redeploying combines from its eastern regions - Orsha and Lepel districts, where harvesting progress is high, to other regions. All regions, including Vitebsk, should complete harvesting by the end of the week, while Grodno, Gomel, Minsk, and Mogilev regions should do so within two days," emphasized Leonid Marinich.
The First Deputy Minister reported that the planned total grain harvest, excluding corn, is approximately 7.8 million tons. "The weather conditions for the development and filling of corn this year have been unfavorable. Corn harvesting will be completed in October - early November," explained Leonid Marinich.