Belarus Agriculture Profile 2012

Reference Date: 28-May-2011

Early forecasts indicate favourable conditions for crops in 2011

The 2011 winter planting season started with delays due to dry weather conditions. Winterkill is estimated at about 12 percent of the cereal-planted area but some lost areas were sown again during the spring season that was completed by early May. Good precipitation since early April improved soil moisture favouring winter crops development. The area planted to cereals this year (winter and spring seasons) is officially estimated at 2.6 million hectares, slightly higher than in 2010, following government support to farmers with the provision of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs. A significant increase of the maize planted is reported which is almost 27 percent higher the last year’s level. The 2011 aggregate cereal production is expected at around 8.3 million tonnes, out of which some 77 percent is coarse grains, which is 19 percent higher compared with last year’s level. This official forecast mainly reflects expected higher yields.

Import requirements are insignificant; cereal export potentials are predicted

The country has become almost self-sufficient in cereals in recent years. The cereal import requirements for 2010/11 (July/June) is estimated at only 62 000 tonnes and the country has exportable surplus of cereals.

The export opportunities of the country are mainly connected to Belarus’ membership in the newly-formed Customs Union (CU) between the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan which in early March cancelled the 5 percent import duty on wheat rye and oats until 30 June 2011.

Prices of basic food on the increase

Despite the overall satisfactory food supply situation in the country, prices of bread and potatoes increased in April 2011 by 31 percent and 86 percent respectively higher from a year earlier. Wheat flour prices have increased by 6 percent for the same period.

Agriculture, which is accountable for about a fourth of the country’s economic output, is based mainly on commercial crops. Flax is grown for its fiber; barley, oats, rye, wheat, potatoes, and sugar beets are the mainstays of Belarus' food-processing industry. Large numbers of beef and dairy cattle, pigs, and poultry are raised.

Early forecasts indicate favourable conditions for crops in 2011

The 2011 winter planting season started with delays due to dry weather conditions. Winterkill is estimated at about 12 percent of the cereal-planted area but some lost areas were sown again during the spring season that was completed by early May. Good precipitation since early April improved soil moisture favouring winter crops development. The area planted to cereals this year (winter and spring seasons) is officially estimated at 2.6 million hectares, slightly higher than in 2010, following government support to farmers with the provision of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs. A significant increase of the maize planted is reported which is almost 27 percent higher the last year’s level. The 2011 aggregate cereal production is expected at around 8.3 million tonnes, out of which some 77 percent is coarse grains, which is 19 percent higher compared with last year’s level. This official forecast mainly reflects expected higher yields.

Import requirements are insignificant; cereal export potentials are predicted

The country has become almost self-sufficient in cereals in recent years. The cereal import requirements for 2010/11 (July/June) is estimated at only 62 000 tonnes and the country has exportable surplus of cereals.

The export opportunities of the country are mainly connected to Belarus’ membership in the newly-formed Customs Union (CU) between the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan which in early March cancelled the 5 % import duty on wheat rye and oats until 30 June 2011.

Prices of basic food on the increase

Despite the overall satisfactory food supply situation in the country, prices of bread and potatoes increased in April 2011 by 31 percent and 86 percent respectively higher from a year earlier. Wheat flour prices have increased by 6 percent for the same period.