March 10, 2012
Belarus may lessen feed ingredients imports
Due to the significant increase in domestic output, Belarus plans to reduce the import of protein components of compound feed in the coming years.
According to statistics, compound production in Belarus is experiencing an acute shortage of digestible protein. Content in one unit of feed currently does not exceed 80 g with about of 105 g being of normal rate.
Annual deficit of protein in feed is filled by the protein supplements purchased from abroad, which costs the country nearly RUB500 billion (US$61.3 billion) annually.
Belarusian scientists developed a program to increase production of leguminous crops by 2.5 times. It will let the country produce 240 tonnes of protein annually for the needs of the feed industry, thereby eliminating its deficit by 2015 and eventually completely abandoning the import by 2020. The estimated volume of investments according to expert forecasts may reach RUB1.5 trillion (US$ 184 million) within three years.
The new initiative of the State Inspectorate for Testing and Protection of Plant Varieties will be implemented under the strategy for the development of feed production and achieve particular self-sufficiency of the industry by 2015.
By that time, Belarus plans to increase the consumption of animal feed to 23.2 million tonnes of feed units, including concentrated - up 10.2 million tonnes. The increase in production of feed by 2015 will be 140% compared to the level 2011. The share of roughage will be 35 to 36%, silage- 30-32%, concentrated feed- 34-35% in all structure of production. By 2020 self-sufficiency rate in feedproduction should be increased to 85% against 45% today.