Vitebsk region plans to double agricultural production by 2015

September 2, Rossony / Sergei Kochetov - BELTA /. The strategy for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region for the next five-year period provides for a doubling of agricultural production by 2015 to at least Br3 trillion. This was announced today in Rossony by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, at the regional festival of agricultural workers "Dazhynki," according to a BELTA correspondent. The program for development for 2011-2015, approved in the region, will allow the agro-industrial complex to achieve positive profitability without state subsidies by 2013, and in another two years, to achieve a profitability of at least 5.7%. The volume of manufactured products by 2015 should amount to at least Br3 trillion in value terms, half of which will be exported. Effective work under the program will bring a qualitatively different development to the agro-industrial complex of Vitebsk region, emphasized Alexander Kosinets. According to him, the region has already begun to implement the promising strategy this year. As of today, the main agricultural work has been completed, with the exception of plowing for the 2011 sowing campaign. Despite difficult weather conditions, which did not allow for an additional harvest of about 600 thousand tons of grain, the region's harvest this year weighs about 930 thousand tons. Vitebsk region has fully fulfilled the state order for grain supplies, is provided with fodder grain and seeds. On the flax field, the yield of flax fiber was 8.5 centners per hectare, which is a record indicator in the history of the region. Feed availability will be 25 centners of feed units per conventional head of cattle. Winter crops have been sown on 250 thousand hectares in compliance with all agricultural technologies, which should ensure a yield of 40 centners per hectare next year. The region's grain acreage will be 500 thousand hectares, 100 thousand hectares will be allocated for corn, another 100 thousand hectares will be occupied by rapeseed, and flax will be sown on 20 thousand hectares. In 2011, the region should strive for a harvest of 2 million tons, as well as produce at least 1 million tons of milk and 227 thousand tons of meat. "Thus, we will be able to fully solve the task of ensuring food security and the effective operation of the agro-industrial complex," Alexander Kosinets is confident. -0-