Purchase prices for crop production of the 2011 harvest may be increased - V. Pavlovsky

April 28, Minsk / Tatyana Chumakova - BELTA /. Purchase prices for crop products of the 2011 harvest may be increased. This was announced today at a press conference by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus Vasily Pavlovsky, BELTA correspondent reports. Vasily Pavlovsky noted that this year the purchase prices for crop production have increased by 27-43% compared to last year. Commenting on the economic situation in the Belarusian market, the Deputy Minister noted that in 2011 the purchase prices for buckwheat, sugar beet, corn, and livestock products may be increased. In particular, for buckwheat, the purchase price should be no less than Br2.5 million per 1 ton. Currently, it is about Br1.8 million per 1 ton. While the price of sugar was significantly increased this year, processing enterprises have benefited from this so far, although agricultural organizations also have the right to a share of the revenue, the Deputy Minister believes. He stressed that when raising prices, the Belarusian side must take into account the prices of products in neighboring countries, and if prices differ significantly in these states, then this is bad, Vasily Pavlovsky noted. Currently, prices for a number of crop products in Belarus are lower than in neighboring countries. For livestock products, prices may be raised in case of an increase in the price of compound feeds, Vasily Pavlovsky explained. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will make proposals to increase the purchase prices for crop products of the 2011 harvest, the Deputy Minister stressed. -0-