Belarusian companies fully meet domestic demand for meat and dairy products, BelTA learned from the press service of the Agriculture and Food Ministry.

Belarus has reached the highest food self-sufficiency rate in the Eurasian Economic Union. It relies 96% on domestic food production to meet its food needs. It is followed by Russia (89%), Kazakhstan (83%), Kyrgyzstan (81%) and Armenia (71%). “Belarusian companies fully meet domestic needs in meat and dairy products. Meat and dairy companies offer a broad assortment of high quality products. The food self-sufficiency ratio of meat and meat products in Belarus is estimated at 135.2%, that of dairy products at 235.1%,” the press service informed.

In January-April companies affiliated with the Agriculture and Food Ministry posted an increase in processed animal products, including milk (up 6%) and cattle (up 9.6%). Cheese production expanded by 10.2%, butter production rose by 3.2%, output of whole milk products (milk, kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc) went up by 6%, canned milk production increased by 28.5%, production of meat and meat byproducts rose by 9.4%. Belarusian food producers have the necessary capacities to double the production of canned products.

Domestic processing companies are capable of processing all animal products made in Belarus; there are even some unemployed capacities that can be used if needed.

Processing companies have the adequate stock of staple foods in warehouses, including meat (beef and pork), meat products and dairy products and butter.