FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 06/99 - BELARUS (25 May)
Spring grain planting is underway. Growing conditions for 1999 winter grains have been mostly satisfactory to date although late frosts in May caused some damage. In an attempt to increase self-sufficiency in grains, all regions have been ordered to increase planted area. However, indications are that yields remain depressed due to economic problems and a shortage of credit and hard currency to finance essential inputs. The official 1999 grain and pulse production target, has been reduced from 7.3 to 6.3 million tonnes.
Following poor grain production in 1998 (officially estimated at 4.9 million tonnes), the country has to import at least 300 000 tonnes of foodgrains. Aggregate cereal imports in 1998/99 are expected to reach only about 400 000 tonnes, as market demand for livestock products has collapsed and foreign exchange constraints limit feedgrain imports.
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