Vitebsk region plans to achieve a profitability of agricultural production at the level of 18% by 2015

September 16, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Deputies of the Vitebsk Regional Council at an ordinary session today approved the program for the development of agricultural organizations of the Vitebsk region for 2011-2015, a BELTA correspondent reports. Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Eduard Demyanov, presenting the program, explained that it defines the priorities for the development of the sector in the next five-year period and the conditions for increasing the economic efficiency of agro-industrial production. The gross grain and pulse harvest is planned to increase from 2 million tons in 2011 to 2.5 million tons in 2015, flax from 20 thousand tons to 24 thousand tons, and potatoes from 270 thousand tons to 300 thousand tons. The cattle population will increase from 637 thousand heads to 700 thousand, and the pig population will increase to 600 thousand. The average milk yield per cow is projected to reach 6.4 thousand kg by 2015. The annual growth in production will average 10%, which will increase the gross output by 1.6 times over five years. With such a gross volume of agricultural production, the profitability of crop production will be positive on average. For example, when growing potatoes, it will exceed 20%, and for long-fiber flax, it will approach 30%. Milk production and pig farming will be economically profitable for farms, with profitability of 26.5% and 20%, respectively. In general, the industry is expected to achieve a profitability of 18% in 2015, with a sales profitability of 5.7%. Along with ensuring sustainable agricultural production, the regional program provides for the creation of a sales system, including the necessary infrastructure. Over five years, 6 fruit and vegetable storage facilities with a total capacity of 10.8 thousand tons will be commissioned in the region, and three deep freezing and cooling shops for fruits and berries will be built. For the successful implementation of the regional program, Br3.5 trillion will be allocated for the purchase of agricultural machinery over five years, and over Br4 trillion for the construction and reconstruction of dairy farms, pig complexes, and vegetable storage facilities. More than Br1 trillion will be invested in rural housing construction in the next five-year period. As Eduard Demyanov noted, the sources of funding will be credit resources and the own funds of agricultural organizations. -0-