The agricultural industry of Belarus can be a reliable source of foreign currency revenues, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Ivan Bambiza said at a joint session of the two chambers of the National Assembly and members of the government of Belarus on 28 May.
On this occasion he addressed several potato (processing) related topics.
He stated that Belarus should reduce the import of potato products to the maximum. “The issue concerning the potato market revival and substitution of the import of potato products should be settled by 2015,” the Vice Premier said.
The matter concerns the potato culture innovation development, potato processing with the use of the latest technologies. “It is not good that, with the annual potato production of 9 million tonnes, we import starch, chips and other potato products,” Ivan Bambiza said. According to the experts, Belarus can export 1.5 million tonnes of potato annually.
Asked by the chairman of the Council of the Republic Anatoly Rubinov what the prospects of the potato-growing industry were, the Vice-Premier said that one of the main reasons hampering the development of the industry is the absence of advanced potato-storage facilities. Despite the high production volume (9 million tonnes of potatoes a year) Belarus has to import starch and frozen peeled potatoes.
The problem can be addressed through the selection of new varieties and construction of potato storage facilities, he said. Belarusian scientists are working on the new sorts of potatoes. Yet, the content of starch is still low, 8-11%. Its content should be above 20% for potato processing to be profitable.
Ivan Bambiza said that by the end of 2010 Belarus intends to complete the program to construct potato storage facilities. It has been fulfilled at 58%. Therefore the government intends to “take its implementation under control. “There is no alternative for us. This is the only way we can ensure potato export,” Ivan Bambiza said. According to him, now the potato storage losses reach 30-50%, which makes potato production an unprofitable business.
Belarus intends to construct big multiproduct trade and logistics centers to render trade and consumer services using Belarusian brands, the Deputy Prime Minister said. He also reminded that a Belarusian trade and logistics center is being constructed in St. Petersburg now.
