Belarus' Agricultural Abundance: Farmland Across The Country

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It has a population of 9.1 million and spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres. Belarus's agricultural sector is divided into two segments: livestock production and crop production, with the latter accounting for around 55% of gross agricultural output. The country's main crop products include barley, rye, oats, wheat, potatoes, flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets. Belarus's agricultural exports in 2000 were valued at US$377 million, with butter, alcoholic beverages, condensed milk, beef, and cheese being the most profitable. Belarus's cool climate and dense soil are well-suited to fodder crops, which support herds of cattle and pigs, as well as temperate-zone crops. While private farms constitute only 15% of agricultural lands, they produce an estimated 40% of the country's agricultural output.

Belarus's main crop products

Cereals and legumes (mainly barley and rye) take up 41% of the sown area in Belarus, while crops used for animal feed account for another 43%. Potatoes and vegetables take up 11% of the sown area, and industrial crops such as sugar beets, flax, and rapeseed make up the remaining 4%.

The country's crop production is dominated by large collective and state farms, and it has a historic emphasis on flax growing. Other important field crops include potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, rye, and corn (maize). Belarus's cool climate and dense soil are well-suited to growing fodder crops, which support herds of cattle and pigs, as well as temperate-zone crops such as wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, flax, and sugar beets.

Belarus's livestock production

Belarus's agricultural sector can be divided into two segments: livestock production and crop production. While crop production accounts for a slightly larger share of the country's output, the country is a significant producer of meat and dairy products.

Cattle

The country has about 1.5 million cows, with the Belarusian black-motley cattle breed being the most common. This breed has a high genetic productivity potential and is the primary source of milk and beef in the country. While milk yields are relatively low (less than 3,000 kg per cow per year), the country has been working to improve its dairy industry through selective breeding and embryo transplantation.

Pigs

Belarus has a large pig farming sector, with 2.9 million pigs across all categories of farms. About 2.5 million of these pigs are in agricultural organizations, including 290,000 in pedigree farms.

Poultry

Poultry farming in Belarus is largely concentrated in collective farms, with the share of family farms in poultry production decreasing over time.

Sheep

Sheep breeding has always been an integral part of the country's economic complex. Currently, sheep breeding in Belarus is represented by the Vitebsk breeding enterprise, which has 772 heads of Romanov breed sheep.

Horses

While horses make up a small share of the country's livestock sector (about 5%), horse breeding is an important part of the industry. There are currently 18 certified pedigree agricultural enterprises for horse breeding in operation.

Belarus's agricultural exports

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a hemiboreal climate. The country spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. Belarus has a mixed economy, with a focus on centralised political and economic controls by the state.

Agriculture in Belarus can be divided into two segments: livestock production and crop production. Crop production accounts for around 55% of gross agricultural output, and the sector contributed to 7.9% of the country's GDP in 2013. Belarus's main crop products include barley, rye, oats, wheat, potatoes, flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets. In 2018, Belarus produced 5.8 million tons of potatoes, ranking 11th in the world. The country also produced 4.8 million tons of sugar beets, 1.8 million tons of wheat, and 1.1 million tons of maize in the same year.

In terms of livestock production, Belarus primarily focuses on pork, beef, and poultry. The country has about 1.5 million cows, but milk yields are relatively low, at less than 3,000 kg per cow per year.

• Potassic fertilizers
• Refined petroleum
• Rapeseed oil
• Sawn wood
• Tractors
• Machinery and equipment
• Mineral products
• Chemicals
• Metals
• Textiles
• Foodstuffs

In 2022, Belarus exported a total of $10.4 billion worth of goods, with China, Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Lithuania being the top five destinations for their exports.

Belarus's agricultural imports

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with an economy that can be divided into two segments: livestock production and crop production. The latter slightly outweighs the former, accounting for around 55% of the country's agricultural output. Belarus's main crop products include barley, rye, oats, wheat, potatoes, flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets. In 2018, Belarus produced 5.8 million tons of potatoes, making it the 11th largest producer in the world.

In terms of agricultural imports, Belarus brings in a variety of goods from several countries. Here is an overview of Belarus's agricultural imports:

• Cars are the top import category, with a value of $1.87 billion.
• Packaged medicaments account for $422 million in imports.
• Light rubberized knitted fabric is imported for $318 million.
• Video displays and motor vehicles, including parts and accessories, are also significant imports, each bringing in over $280 million.
• Other notable agricultural imports include electrical machinery, furniture, and plastics.

The main trading partners for Belarus's agricultural imports are China, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, and Turkey. Belarus's economy is highly centralized, with a focus on full employment and a dominant public sector. While the country has an efficient health system and a very low infant mortality rate, it faces challenges such as a decline in agricultural employment due to urbanization and a decrease in the rural population.

Belarus's agricultural employment

Belarus has a highly centralized, upper-middle-income mixed economy. The country's economy emphasizes full employment and a dominant public sector.

Agriculture is a crucial sector of the Belarusian economy, contributing 6% to the country's GDP in 2020. Over 266,000 people are employed in the agricultural sector. The number of people employed in agriculture has been declining over time, dropping from 14.1% of the total workforce to 9.9% between 2000 and 2007. This decrease in agricultural employment is a long-term trend, with agriculture's share of employment as high as 19% in the early 1990s. This decline parallels the general urbanization trends in Belarus, as the share of the rural population steadily decreases.

The agricultural sector in Belarus can be divided into two segments: livestock production and crop production. While both are significant, crop production slightly outweighs livestock production, accounting for around 55% of the gross agricultural output since 1995. The main crop products in Belarus include barley, rye, oats, wheat, potatoes, flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets.

Livestock production includes products of animal origin, mainly pork, beef, and poultry. Belarus has about 1.5 million cows, but milk yields are relatively low, producing less than 3,000 kg per cow per year.

In addition to agriculture, forestry is also an important economic sector in Belarus, contributing to the country's food security and export potential. The forestry industry employs about 100,000 people, with the majority living in rural areas. Belarus has around one hectare of forest per resident, and forests occupy approximately 40% of the country's territory.

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