Belarus, Ukraine to grow corn, alfalfa seeds together

Belarus and Ukraine plan to set up joint enterprises this year to grow seeds of corn and alfalfa, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Mikhail Rusyi told a press conference on 5 May.

Relevant negotiations between the two countries are in the final phase. The Belarusian side is in rather vigorous talks with Odessa Oblast. As far as corn is concerned, some corn plantations use seeds of Belarusian-Ukrainian selection. The exact amount of investments to be channeled into the joint enterprises is yet unknown.

Mikhail Rusyi also said that by the end of the year Belarus-made turkey meat will become available. Three facilities will be set up in 2011-2012 to produce this meat.

According to the Agriculture and Food Minister, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will allocate about €30 million for the development of agricultural processing enterprises.

The official also remarked that the development of Belarusian agribusiness had resulted in a steady growth of the export of agricultural products. In January-April 2011 enterprises operated by the Agriculture and Food Ministry exported about $800 million worth of products, 20% up on the same period of last year.

In turn, Vice Premier of Belarus Valery Ivanov said that work was underway to set up integration structures in plant cultivation in Belarus. He specified that the possibility of setting up a flax holding company involving Orsha Linen Mill and flax-processing enterprises of Vitebsk Oblast was under consideration.