Generous harvest ahead

Effective state policy in the agricultural sector is bearing fruit. Belarus is confident that it will complete spring sowing, like other field work, without problems. 
Thanks to the efforts of the Head of State, scientists and agricultural producers, Belarus has created the capacity needed to carry out agricultural campaigns within optimal timeframes. As a result, the country provides itself with grain and other crops, contributing to higher production and export of livestock products.

Anton Stepanishchev

MANY TIMES MORE THAN IN EARLIER YEARS

Vasily Svirid, Chairman of the Denshchikov agricultural production co-operative in Grodno District, has led the farm since 1980, so he can compare the potential and results of work in Soviet times, after the collapse of the USSR, and in subsequent years, “At the end of the last century, we had three times less arable land than now. Ten seeders worked in the fields. Now there are only four, but they are wide-cut, so they sow many times more per day than their predecessors. As a result, we cope with this work easily and quickly. I believe we were very lucky that Aleksandr Lukashenko won the first Presidential election almost 32 years ago — the man who is close to the aspirations of the people, who knew the problems of agriculture and immediately set about solving them. Therefore, we got modern ploughs, cultivators, seeders, energy-intensive tractors, high-performance combine harvesters and many other resources.”
By the standards of the late last century, this farm was strong. It harvested up to five tonnes of grain per hectare. In the new century, they took a decisive step forward.
Last year, the yield of grain and leguminous crops in processed weight amounted to 9.25 TONNES PER HECTARE, rapeseed — 5.48, potatoes — 54.67, sugar beet — 101.72. 

 

WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING OF OUR OWN 

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many economic ties were severed. Thus, deliveries of combine harvesters to Belarus ceased. Their fleet decreased due to wear and tear and write-offs. At the same time, there were plenty of ‘well-wishers’ who, just like with all agricultural machinery, offered a simple solution: to import. The Head of State always responded that we need to have everything of our own.
During a visit to the fields of the 1st Minsk Poultry Factory on August 1st, 2018, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, 

“When you do not have your own and someone supplies you, they can ‘grab you by the throat’ at any moment. And that’s it — no independence, no sovereignty. Anyone who has not smelled this bread will never understand why you need to have your own. We need to have everything of our own that we are capable of. This elevates the nation, the people, gives them the opportunity to earn money.”

Fields of Iskra-Vetka agricultural enterprise, Vetka District                                                           Ivan Yarivanovich

In March 1996, the Head of State visited Gomselmash. He was presented with materials substantiating the project for the production of the first Belarusian combine harvester and asked to provide funding for the work. The request was granted quickly. Already in August of the same year, the first Belarusian KZR-10 Polesie-Rotor grain harvesting complex mowed its first hectare. The President flew to Vetka District to test the new machine. He gave a positive assessment of the new equipment and promised financial support for its creation. And he kept his word. For many years now, Belarus has harvested most of its grain and rapeseed with its own combine harvesters, and it also sells them to many countries around the world.
A similar situation existed with energy-intensive tractors. The Head of State repeatedly stressed the need for Belarusian machines of this kind. In December 1998, Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) was instructed to prepare design documentation and build a prototype with a capacity of 250 horsepower in 1999. 
In just six months, the design documentation was completed, and a prototype was assembled. In May 1999, Aleksandr Lukashenko visited MTZ. He got behind the wheel of the first most powerful tractor at that time, created with his immense participation, and drove across the square in front of the plant. When the President emerged from the cab, satisfied, everyone understood: Belarusian energy-intensive tractors were here to stay!
This machinery addressed the issues of increasing productivity in ploughing, soil preparation, and sowing. However, this required appropriate trailed implements. Imported ones were available. However, here too, the President insisted: we will make our own. This is how domestic multi-body ploughs and seed drills appeared — initially with a working width of six metres, then nine and twelve.  

FUEL AND FERTILISERS SURGING IN PRICE IN THE WEST 

While sowing in Belarus is progressing according to plan, this campaign is raising concern among our western neighbours. Thus, in Poland, fuel and lubricants prices have risen sharply. Diesel fuel there is many times more expensive than in Belarus. It is expected that the 2026 spring sowing campaign in Poland will face serious difficulties due to high inflation, rising production costs and the threat of the liquidation of a third of agricultural enterprises.
The situation is even worse in Latvia. Due to rising fuel prices, some farmers are considering reducing cultivated areas or even stopping operations. Mineral fertiliser prices have dealt another serious blow to farmers this year. While they could be bought for about €250 per tonne last autumn, now the price is already around €450. 

DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT — 87 PERCENT 

Since our country’s independence, significant changes have taken place in the mechanisation of agriculture. In 1990, only 13 percent of the agricultural machinery in use in the republic was produced domestically.
“Constant attention and support from the President, along with the preservation and development of agricultural machine building, have allowed us to move to a new level of farming in a short period of time. Low-efficiency machines have been replaced by modern, wide-cut and energy-intensive domestic equipment,” said Stanislav Karpovich, Head of the Main Directorate for Technical Progress and Energy, State Supervision of Technical Condition of Machinery and Equipment at the Agriculture and Food Ministry. “Currently, over 87 percent of the machine and tractor fleet at agricultural organisations is domestically manufactured. Over 30 years, the energy efficiency of labour has almost doubled: from 42 horsepower per average employee in 1995 to 80 horsepower at the beginning of 2026.”

The President emphasises, “The main thing is to increase the efficiency and profitability of agricultural production. Agricultural enterprises must be provided with everything necessary in a timely manner: fertilisers, seeds, protective equipment, plants, growth regulators, spare parts for agricultural machinery, and so on. At the same time, they must have the opportunity to purchase everything they need at fair prices.” 

SUBVENTIONS AND SUBSIDIES 

Every year, at the beginning of January, the Government adopts an important document for rural residents. This was also the case this year. On January 12th, the Council of Ministers issued Resolution No. 9 On Measures for Preparing for Field Work, Creating Solid Food Supply, and Harvesting in 2026. It sets out, point by point, what the authorities, resource suppliers and agricultural producers must do to obtain a high yield. Thus, to carry out all field work during the year, it is necessary to purchase 710 thousand tonnes of diesel fuel, 58 thousand tonnes of automotive petrol, 28.7 thousand tonnes of motor oils and lubricants. 
Regional executive committees, through subventions from the national budget, funds from the national and local budgets, and bank loans, must ensure timely funding for the complex of field work. Subsidies are provided for the payment of part of the interest on loans.
Rural workers purchase most of the resources themselves. Yet various measures of state support are also envisaged. Thus, Agriculture and Food Ministry Resolution No. 23 of March 12th, 2026 establishes the amount of reduction in the cost of seeds of agricultural plants (no more than 50 percent of the prices prevailing in the previous year on average in the republic), and determines their types and volumes.
Belarus does not prohibit the import of seeds from abroad. Yet the emphasis is on our own, as noted by Nikolai Leshik, Head of the Main Directorate for Crop Production at the Agriculture and Food Ministry, “For the main grain items — such as wheat, oats, barley — more than 80 percent of the area was sown with domestic seeds last year, and for some crops — 90 percent. This year, seed material has been prepared with the possibility of 100 percent sowing with domestic varieties.”

NO LESS THAN LAST YEAR 

The benefits of mineral fertilisers have been proven repeatedly and universally. Since 2022, more than a million tonnes of them have been applied across the country annually. Last year saw a significant addition — 1 million 195 thousand tonnes. As a result, the indicator per hectare of agricultural land increased from 151kg in terms of 100 percent nutrients to 170kg.

In 2026, it is planned to apply no less mineral fertilisers across the country than last year in order to obtain high yields of all crops. Manufacturers have promised to do everything necessary for this, and the regions will select quotas.

Barley field in Minsk Region                                         Yegor Yermalitskiy                                                                           Alisa Drugakova

ROWTH IN PROGRESS

In 1995, agricultural organisations produced just over 3 MILLION TONNES of milk, while in 2025, this figure exceeded 9 MILLION. Meat production stood at 760 THOUSAND TONNES and 1 MILLION 775 THOUSAND TONNES, respectively.

EXPORTS TO 116 COUNTRIES 

Fuel and fertiliser prices are controlled in Belarus. All conditions have been created to produce more products and sell them profitably.
During a visit to Dribin District last March, the President remarked, “Last year, we received 11.1 million tonnes [of grain] across the country. This is a very high yield in recent years. So I told them [those responsible for the development of the agricultural sector]: it cannot be lower. This year, we will add. That is the task.”
Less than 10 percent of all grain produced in Belarus is used for food purposes. The rest is for animals on farms. Improving their diets through the effective use of herbal and concentrated fodder allows for increased livestock production.
Belarus produces about a tonne of milk per inhabitant per year. On average, they consume around 247KG of milk per person. The rest is exported.
Belarus ranks THIRD in the world in terms of butter exports in physical terms, FOURTH for cheese, THIRD for condensed milk, whey powder and its components. 
At the start of this year, it was reported that in 2025, Belarus achieved its highest ever export growth of food products and agricultural raw materials in its history as a sovereign state. The volume of supplies to the external market reached $10bn. Food exports accounted for a quarter of the country’s total merchandise exports.

The backbone of the export portfolio is dairy products, accounting for 40 PERCENT of all supplies. Meat products account for 19 PERCENT. Products from national manufacturers were supplied to 116 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

  






















Kobrin Butter and Cheese Plant                           Pavel Bogush           Scientific and Practical Centre for Agriculture       Ilya Shvedko

By Vasily Gedroits