Last year, Belarus reported a harvest of approximately 210,000 tonnes of apples, marking an increase of nearly 40,000 tonnes from 2021. The leading region in this sector was Brest Oblast. The harvested apples were distributed among retail, stored for winter, and exported. This achievement was attributed to advancements in agricultural technologies, spearheaded by the Institute of Fruit Growing. The institute emphasizes the necessity of foresight in horticulture, aiming for optimal yields from new varieties, which can take up to 15 years to develop.
Dmitry Martsinkevich, the Head of Storage and Processing at the Institute of Fruit Growing, detailed the process of introducing a new apple variety, highlighting the importance of experimental orchards for ensuring compliance with technological standards. The institute focuses on breeding winter-hardy and disease-resistant apple varieties like Alesya, Vesyalina, Diamant, Belorusskoye Sladkoye, and Zorka, not only for academic purposes but also for commercial gain. Martsinkevich revealed the institute's capacity for apple storage and its ongoing efforts to enhance storage technologies to prolong the marketability of their apples.
Source: eng.belta.by