Milk purchase prices in Belarus have been increased by an average of 10%

March 22, Minsk / Olga Belyavskaya - BELTA /. In Belarus, procurement prices for milk purchased for state needs have been increased by an average of 10%. This decision is contained in Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 387, the BELTA correspondent was informed at the Office of the Council of Ministers. Based on the document, relevant amendments have been made to Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 812 "On procurement prices for livestock products sold for national state needs" of June 5, 2008. Procurement prices for "Extra" grade milk are now Br1000 per 1 kg, for the highest grade - Br785, for the first grade - Br725, for the second grade - Br415. Previously, they were Br905, Br715, Br660, and Br380, respectively. The Main Directorate of Economics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food explained that the current increase in procurement prices for milk is due to rising production costs. "In addition, this measure is necessary to put domestic producers on equal footing with producers in neighboring countries, where milk procurement prices are higher," the ministry noted. It is expected that the increase in milk prices for state needs will not significantly affect the level of retail prices for finished dairy products in the domestic market. It is recalled that the last time milk procurement prices were increased by an average of 10% was in November 2009. At that time, it was due to increased costs for animal maintenance during the winter stall period, as well as higher prices for finished products on the foreign market. -0-