Vegetable growing of the Republic of Belarus

Vegetable growing in the Republic of Belarus in recent years shows a high dynamics of development. The natural and climatic conditions of Belarus are favorable for the cultivation of cold-resistant vegetable crops (all types of cabbage, table roots, green). Conditions for annual guaranteed collections of heat-loving crops (tomato, cucumber) in the open ground are available only in the South-Eastern and South-Western regions of the Republic. In the rest of the territory, guaranteed yields of these crops are most possible in greenhouses, under film shelters and in insulated soil. In the Republic of Belarus, the sown areas under vegetables in recent years in all categories of farms have stabilized at the level of 65–70 thousand hectares, including in households – 46–50 thousand hectares, in farms – 10–11 thousand hectares. In the last 20 years, there is a positive trend of progressive increase in production in farms, the yield of vegetable products in which in 2018 by 64 and 31% exceeded the same indicator for agricultural organizations and farms, respectively. In the total structure of the gross harvest of vegetables on the farms of the population accounts for about 67–69%, farm – 16–19%, agricultural organizations – 13–15%. Production of vegetables per capita in recent years has fluctuated at the level of 178–206 kg (at the rate of 146 kg). The Republic fully provides itself with vegetables, in addition, vegetables are exported. More than 60 vegetable stores have been built in the country, but most of them require significant reconstruction. Currently, there is also an increase in the production of canned fruits and vegetables. Thus, the domestic market of vegetables is almost completely provided with products of its own production. To improve the efficiency of vegetable growing of the Republic of Belarus on the basis of specialization and concentration of production it is necessary to improve the organization of the whole vegetable subcomplex, including geographical location, specialization, and the structure of production of vegetables, including a strengthening material-technical base of processing and storage, improving the procurement of commodity products, expanding the range and improving the quality of vegetables.

Key words: The Republic of Belarus, vegetable, vegetable sub-complex, the agricultural organizations, peasant farms of the population