Belarus to up milk output to 10-10.5 million tonnes by 2015

DOKSHITSY, 13 December (BelTA) – By the end of the current five-year term Belarus should increase milk production up to 10-10.5 million tonnes per annum, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said at the government session held in the town of Dokshitsy on 13 December to discuss the construction and reconstruction of dairy farms in Vitebsk Oblast.

“It is necessary to increase milk output up to 10-10.5 million tonnes while at the beginning of the five-year term the figure stood at slightly over 6 million tonnes,” stressed the Belarusian head of government. In his words, this work should be accompanied by the resolution of accompanying issues, primarily sales of dairy products. “The government pays close attention to processing in order to ensure that products are competitive on foreign markets,” he said. Domestic sales may increase by 15% at most but the rest should be exported.

In this situation a wise marketing policy is vital for manufacturers. “With the narrow-minded approaches that we still encounter and without enabling major milk companies it is impossible to successfully increase the output and export of dairy products,” Mikhail Myasnikovich is convinced.

The Prime Minister underlined it was important for manufacturers to shape a modern balanced forage base at dairy farms. It is vital for a successful milk production increase. Attention should be also paid to optimizing the number of cattle at such facilities.

Mikhail Myasnikovich said that in 2011 as many as 83 new dairy farms should be commissioned in Belarus, including seven ones in Vitebsk Oblast. Analyzing the fulfillment of projects in the oblast, the Prime Minister remarked that as of 1 December 2011 only one out of the seven dairy farms was commissioned, while the rest were about to. He urged heads of the oblast administration and district administrations to step up efforts.

The head of government pointed out peculiarities of state support for such projects in the future. “In 2012 we plan for preferential lending for 104 dairy farms across the country,” he said. However, the credit resources will not cover 100% of the expenses but 80%. The rest should be covered by manufacturers and local budgets. Mikhail Myasnikovich underlined that the reconstruction of dairy farms should be done at one’s own expenses as the head of state had instructed.