Mass potato harvesting has begun in Belarus, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

All regions have started the work. "The second bread has been harvested from 6% of the area, which amounts to more than 1,000 hectares out of the planned 22,000 hectares. 53,000 tonnes of potatoes have been dug up with an average yield of 370 centners per hectare, which is 11 centners per hectare higher than last year. By region, the results are as follows: Mogilev region — 24,000 tonnes, Brest region — 14,000 tonnes, Minsk region — 5,000 tonnes, Vitebsk and Gomel regions — 4,000 tonnes each, Grodno region — 2,000 tonnes," the press service reported.

For grain crops, agricultural organizations and peasant farms have threshed 9,141,000 tonnes including rapeseed. By region: Minsk region — 2,408,000 tonnes, Grodno region — 1,838,000 tonnes, Brest region — 1,668,000 tonnes, Mogilev region — 1,192,000 tonnes, Gomel region — 1,091,000 tonnes, Vitebsk region — 944,000 tonnes.

Grain crops (including rapeseed, excluding corn) have been harvested from an area of 2,452,000 hectares, which is 98% of the total area of 2,497,000 hectares. As part of the state order, 652,000 tonnes of food grain have been delivered (98% of the planned 663,000 tonnes), and 93,000 tonnes of malting barley (108% of the planned 86,000 tonnes).

Sugar beet has been harvested from 9% of the area — 10,000 hectares out of the planned 109,000 hectares. 426,000 tonnes of root crops have been dug up with an average yield of 411 centners per hectare. By region: Minsk region — 244,000 tonnes, Grodno region — 146,000 tonnes, Mogilev region — 29,000 tonnes, Brest region — 7,000 tonnes. "The regions are harvesting at a pace exceeding last year's figures," the press service noted.

Corn for silage and green fodder has been harvested from 8% of the area, which amounts to 77,000 hectares. Grass has been mowed for the second cut on an area of 911,000 hectares, which is 90% of the plan.

Hay harvested — 562,000 tonnes (78% of the plan), silage — 1.6 million tonnes (8% of the plan), grass fodder — about 4.2 million tonnes of feed units (41% of the plan), haylage — almost 12.3 million tonnes (86% of the plan).

The availability of mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) for winter sowing is 157% of the plan.