A new financing scheme for the supply of mineral fertilizers for agriculture could be introduced in Belarus in 2028. The issue was discussed today at a meeting with Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
The new scheme would provide for 50% of the cost of fertilizers to be covered by the consolidated budget and 50% by agricultural organizations, the government press service reports.
“Starting in 2028, we propose an entirely new scheme which, in our view, will be the most workable. Fifty percent will come from the consolidated budget, and another 50% from agricultural organizations. But there is a condition: 50% of the consolidated budget funds will be transferred to mineral fertilizer producers only after agricultural organizations have paid their share”, Agriculture and Food Minister Yury Horlau said.
In 2027, the share of the consolidated budget allocated for the purchase of mineral fertilizers is planned to increase by 6%. Regional executive committees will oversee the use of budget funds and the application of fertilizers.
Horlau noted that the current financing scheme for fertilizer supplies needs to be adjusted.
“We see that this scheme needs to be adjusted because during the year we have to appeal to the head of state for additional sources of financing for the purchase of mineral fertilizers. This is not very convenient and takes a certain amount of time to develop regulatory documents”, the minister said.
The issue of controlling the pricing of mineral fertilizers will be considered by a relevant commission under the Council of Ministers.
At today’s meeting, Lukashenka drew attention to the fact that agricultural organizations are not taking up their quotas of mineral fertilizers, which are sold to them on preferential terms. As a result, the products cannot be sold on the foreign market, where prices are currently high.
