Изображение: СТВ
Belarus could produce 15 million tonnes of grain under certain conditions, Siarhei Krautsou, director general of the Academy of Sciences’ Scientific and Practical Centre for Arable Farming, said on STV.
“As for the potential you mentioned, if everything goes well and weather conditions are favourable, I think we can produce 15 million tonnes of grain”, he said.
Belarus harvested 9.15 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops last year. However, officials have recently included rapeseed oilseeds in the grain harvest figures, allowing them to report a harvest of 10 million tonnes or more.
According to Krautsou, the biological potential of Belarusian soils averages 9 centners per hectare nationwide.
“Last year, we achieved an average of 38 centners across the Republic of Belarus. All this is thanks solely to science, to people, and to compliance with regulations and crop cultivation technologies”, he said.
Krautsou stressed that dependence on agrometeorological conditions is declining, making it possible to achieve yields above the potential level.
“Our dependence is significant in the Republic of Belarus. If we look back, for example, 50 years, we were 80% dependent on climatic conditions. Now, thanks to the latest developments in fertiliser technologies, crop protection products and growth retardants, we are only 40% dependent on nature. We will continue to reduce this dependence”, he said.