Belarus has announced a 10-year plan to revitalize its swine industry after a decade of production declines and rising import pressure. The strategy aims to boost national pork production from 413,000 tonnes in 2024 to 500,000 tonnes by 2034.
New Infrastructure and Targets
The plan includes the construction of 12 modern pig farms by 2034, with four large-scale facilities designed to finish more than 100,000 pigs each per year. These new farms are intended to improve efficiency and biosecurity while helping replace aging infrastructure across the country.
In parallel, older, less productive farms will be shut down and repurposed for other livestock production, such as cattle or poultry, to improve overall resource use and economic viability.
Reversing a Steep Decline
The effort comes as Belarus works to reverse a long-term decline in pig numbers. As of Q1 2025, the national herd had dropped by 13% year-over-year—from 2.27 million pigs to 1.97 million. Nearly all regions saw herd reductions, with the Homel and Minsk regions losing close to one-third of their pigs over the past year. Only the Mogilev region maintained stable numbers.
Biosecurity and Disease Prevention
A key driver of the modernization effort is the need to prevent disease outbreaks, especially African Swine Fever (ASF), which has previously disrupted production. The new facilities will implement higher biosecurity standards, controlled environments, and technology-based monitoring to reduce risks and protect herd health.
Competition from Russian Pork
The plan also seeks to reduce reliance on pork imports, which have surged due to declining domestic supply. In 2024, Belarus imported 99,000 tonnes of pork, mostly from Russia. During Q1 2025 alone, 27,000 tonnes were imported—a 50% increase over the same period the year before. Russian pork now accounts for roughly 20% of the Belarusian market.
By increasing domestic production and upgrading farm systems, Belarus aims to regain self-sufficiency, limit foreign competition, and stabilize its pork sector over the next decade.
