If you think your agri-policy makers can be a
bit draconian at times, spare a thought for the world’s largest collective
farm, otherwise known as Belarus, were agricultural production targets for
2016 have just been approved.
According to Resolution No.1037 of the
Council of Ministers, agricultural output is set at 9.2mmt of grain, 1.4mmt of
potatoes, 4.8mmt of sugar beet, 518,600mt of vegetables and 113,400mt of fruit
and berries.
The resolution goes on to approve how much
fertiliser, micro-nutrients, pesticides, diesel, petrol etc. must be
purchased and instructions to ensure that at least 95% of agricultural
machinery will be in a state of readiness for spring fieldwork before 25 March
2016.
They don't say what happens if they fail to meet the production targets, in the past the trick was to never not meet the production targets at least on paper.
The full resolution will come into force on 1
January 2016 and can be can be found at Белта.