All field works in Belarus have been completed. The country has provided itself with staple foodstuffs in full volume, Minister of Agriculture and Food Mikhail Rusyi reported to head of state Alexander Lukashenko during his working trip to Minsk Oblast.

In Belarus all categories of agricultural companies harvested nearly 8.1 million tonnes of grain and more than 1.6 million tonnes of corn. The harvest of sugar beet was also good this year. Its gross harvest amounted to more than 4.4 million tonnes with sugar content of 16.7%, which corresponds to European standards. “Once we dreamt to grow 3.5 million tonnes of sugar beet, and now we are approaching five million,” the head of state noted with satisfaction. With regard to sugar export, Mikhail Rusyi told the President that supplies to Russia alone will amount to 220,000-280,000 tonnes. Sugar will be also expected to other countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.

The minister also informed Alexander Lukashenko that the stocks of other agricultural products are sufficient. In particular, the country harvested about 1.5 million tonnes of potatoes. The potato stocks are 115% of the required volume. The stocks of cabbage, carrots, beets, onions and other essential products are also sufficient.

According to Mikhail Rusyi, the situation with the provision of the retail chain with main cereals including buckwheat is under control. The country harvested 38,000 tonnes of buckwheat this year. The minister emphasized a big advantage of cultivating the crop. “The cost of one tonne of buckwheat is equal to the cost of three tonnes of wheat,” he added. On the whole, the country’s export of cereal products (apart from rice) is expected to outpace their import in 2014.

The country is not only prepared to meet its demand in flour in full (i.e. 600,000 tonnes) but also to export nearly 100,000 tonnes of rye flour this year.

The head of state showed a keen interest in the situation in the dairy and meat industries. Mikhail Rusyi stated that both the industries reported growth this year.