The Belarusian government is unhappy with the efforts of several regions to restore pork production, Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers on Nov. 25, the Belarusian Telegraph Agency has learned.

“Unfortunately, several regions have nothing to be proud of. Some have not even bothered to discuss the matter at sessions of oblast executive committees and just made one-time instructions. Well, if it is your working style, I am OK with it. What matters most is the result,” the Premier underlined.

The work done in Vitebsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast was called unsatisfactory. These regions produced 31,200 tonnes (55.2% as against 2013) and 27,800 tonnes (79.6%) of pork (live weight) respectively in January to October. Vitebsk Oblast was hit the worst by the African swine fever in 2012.

The efforts to restore pork production are constantly monitored by the government. The relevant instructions were given by the head of state. “The government has made the necessary decisions. The pig production in the first quarter of 2015 should make up 124,300 tonnes. Thus, the task set by the president should be fulfilled in order to restore pork production up to the level of the first quarter of 2012,” the Premier said.

The head of government listed the major areas of focus. Thus, one of the ways to restore pork production is to increase the pig population. In the first quarter of 2015 the growth should make up 110,000 tonnes. Pork production will also be increased by means of higher production efficiency.

In January-to-October 2014 pork production (live weight) in Belarus was estimated at 322,800 tonnes, or 83.5% as against the same period in 2013. In Vitebsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast the production declined by 500 tonnes in October compared to August 2014. In Gomel Oblast and Grodno Oblast the production volume remained the same. In Brest Oblast and Minsk Oblast the production grew by 100 tonnes and 600 tonnes, respectively.

In 2014 Belarus will commission a total of eight new pig breeding complexes at Borisov Meat Processing Plant, Bolshevik-Agro (Soligorsk District), Zhabinka Feed Mill, Slutsk Meat Processing Enterprise, Pribuzhie (Brest District), Agrokombinat Zhdanovichi, Zabolotsky (Luban District), Danprod (Volozhin District). The construction of five pig breeding complexes in Korelichi District, Narovlya District, Lelchitsy District, Postavy District and Smolevichi District will be finished in 2015.

By Jan. 1, 2016, the pig population in Belarus is expected to exceed 3.3 million head; the gross production of pigs (live weight) is to amount to 485,000 tonnes. This will be done by using vacant places at existing pig breeding farms and commissioning new farms. The daily gains are to be increased by at least 1.37 lb. by means of using of efficient granulated combined feed.