Resolution No. 268 of the Council of Ministers validating Complex of measures for the development of sheep farming in the Republic of Belarus for 2019–2025.

The set of measures for the development of sheep farming in the Republic of Belarus for 2019– 2025 was developed in order to ensure fuller employment of the rural population and increase the competitiveness of domestic agricultural and industrial products.
The scope of the set of measures is to fully satisfy the needs of the national population for lamb, to supply sheep products for export, as well as partial import substitution for wool and sheepskins for organizations that are part of the Belarusian State Concern for the Production and Sale of Light Industry Goods.
In order to increase the number of sheep in 2019–2025, it is planned to purchase 37.2 thousand heads of pedigree sheep breeds from abroad, which have a high genetic potential for obtaining commercial sheep products for their further breeding and delivery of 18.5 thousand heads of young animals to agricultural organizations, peasant (farming) households and citizens engaged in private farming. The number of sheep by 2025 will double and amount to 169 thousand heads.
In order to ensure technological production of sheep products during the recovery period of this industry, it is proposed to provide state support in the form of payment from local budgets of subsidies per unit of sheep and sheep wool sold and (or) sent for processing.
With the development of technological sheep breeding, the quality characteristics of its products will improve, and the cost will decrease, which will allow in the future, to withdraw from subsidizing this industry. Reaching breakeven point will motivate agricultural producers to further increase the number of sheep, produce sheep products, and ensure fuller employment of the rural population. The target indicators of this set of measures are the growth rates of the sheep population in the Republic of Belarus.