Belarus’ President okays rural development program
MINSK, 3 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 342 “On state program for sustainable rural development in 2011-2015” on 1 August, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.
The program aims at sustainable social and economic development of rural areas and improving its demographic situation through enhancing the economic efficiency of the agricultural sector, developing business initiative, balancing the domestic food market, building up an export potential, increasing earnings in the rural sector, improving living standards of the rural population, attracting and rationally using investments.
The program includes 19 special subprograms meant for different agricultural sectors (land development, technical assistance, dairy industry, poultry, hog breeding, potato growing, horticulture and fruit-growing, flax production, seed farming and others).
According to the program, the production growth in all types of farms is expected at the level of 139-145% in 2011-2015. The margin on sales in the agricultural sector will go up 10-11% by 2015.
In 2015 the production of grain will reach 12 million tonnes, sugar beet – 5.5 million tonnes, flax fiber – 60,000 tonnes, oilseeds – 1.06 million tonnes, potato – 7.75 million tonnes, other vegetables – 2.16 million tonnes, milk – 10.7 million tonnes, cattle and poultry (live weight) – 2 million tonnes.
In 2015 the country is expected to earn $7.2 billion from the export of its agricultural produce and post a trade surplus of $4 billion.
As regards social services in the rural sector, the program envisages further development of the infrastructure of agro-towns and creation of favorable conditions for small business and individual enterprise.
The average monthly salary in the rural sector will get close to average wages across the country.
An estimated Br29.7 trillion of budgetary resources are planned for the implementation of the program. Of them Br27 trillion will be earmarked for production development and Br2.7 trillion – for social services.