English

Pork output by 15,000 tons lower than expected over outbreaks of African swine fever

Belarus' pork production has been by 15,000 tons lower than expected because of last year's outbreaks of African swine fever, Agriculture Minister Leanid Zayats told reporters in Minsk on February 20.

He said that 10,500 hogs had been removed from households alone in exchange for a total of more than 20 billion rubels in compensation.

Belarus’ first-ever officially registered case of the virus was reported in the Iwye district, Hrodna region, in June 2013. Cases of the virus were later confirmed on a state-owned hog farm close to Vitsyebsk.

Mr. Zayats said that measures taken by the agricultural sector had helped contain the spread of the virus. "What matters most is that we have gained the experience of tackling an outbreak on a farm. We can also share our experience with those who have not yet experienced this trouble. This is not only the problem of Belarus but also of Russia and the European Union," he said.

He said that the agricultural sector was still capable of satisfying Belarus' pork demand in full and supplying pork to other countries. //BelaPAN