Belarusian farmers eager to harvest over 1m tonnes of potatoes
Belarusian agrarians intend to harvest over 1 million tonnes of potatoes, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Vladimir Grakun at a press conference.
Vladimir Grakun said: “Due to climatic conditions this year’s sowing began virtually two weeks early and is now proceeding at quite a good pace. Agricultural enterprises have to complete this work properly and within an optimal timeframe. Even more so considering the Year of Quality. We have to harvest the intended amount of produce: over 10 million tonnes of grain, including cruciferous crops, 1.2 million tonnes of potatoes, 55,000 tonnes of flax fiber, and other things.”
According to the deputy agriculture and food minister, Belarus has everything necessary to hit this target. “Some headway into cereal crops was secured in autumn. These crops are getting additional fertilizers now. The first additional fertilizing of winter headed cereals has been completed in 97% of the area under the crops and 92% of the area under cruciferous crops. The crops endured winter very well. We hope they will develop well. Their losses are at the natural level: less than 1% of winter cereals and about 2% of cruciferous crops,” he remarked.