TEXT 6 ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
Task 1. Read and translate the following text. Summarise it in your own words.
Belarus was heavily affected by the accident at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, which is located just over the border in the southeast in neighbouring Ukraine close to the Pripyatriver. The nuclear accident occurred in April 1986 and 70 percent of the radiation is estimated to have fallen on Belarus, as prevailing winds carried the heaviest radioactive releases into Belarus. About 1.8 million ha or 20 percent of the agricultural land in Belarus is estimated to be contaminated, including almost the entire drained area in the southern and southeasternPolesye. More than 2 million ha of forest areas were also subject to radioactive contamination. However, in spite of this contamination, cropping has not been totally suspended. The largest part of contaminated areas is in Gomel and Mogilev provinces in the southeast of the country.
Traditionally, the farms in Belarus were state-run. In 1995, agriculture was almost exclusively in the hands of the sovkhoz (state farms) and kolkhoz (collective farms) and there were only 3 000 private farms in Belarus, owning a total of 62 100 ha of land. Many of the state-run farms have now been privatized and sold to foreign investors, greatly increasing their productivity. Several of the remaining state-owned farms are seeking foreign investment.
The country's main agricultural products are potatoes (being the world's eighth biggest producer) and cereals. Other agricultural products include vegetables, fruits, meat, diary products. Much is exported to neighbouring states, with the Russian Federation being a major market.
Most of the Trans-European railway main lines and highways, oil and gas pipelines, air routes and waterways between West Europe and Asia, converge in Belarus. The shortest routes from Central and Eastern Russian regions to Western Europe, as well as between the Baltic and Black seas, go through Belarus. Belarus is rich in natural resources.
| Task 2. Read through the text again, paragraph by paragraph. When you come across a word which you don't know and which you think is important for the text write it down and beside it write your idea of what it probably means. | 
|
TEXT 7 THE PIG INDUSTRY AND UK AGRICULTURE
Task 1. Read and translate the text. Put as many questions to the text as you can.
The pig industry is a major sector in UK agriculture and unlike many other sectors it is not supported by state or European subsidy. Today's pig industry has its origins in 6000 years of farming. Throughout this period the pig has been a valuable farm animal that has consumed waste products, fertilized the ground and provided an efficient source of meat production. In the countryside it was always traditional for householders to keep pigs in their back gardens but this practice was outlawed and pigs are now only kept in a farmed environment. In the last few years cheap imports of pig meat from abroad (the sterling has been strong against other European currencies) have undermined the British pig industry. In addition, the costs of production in the UK have risen markedly as UK farmers have had to comply with welfare legislation that is not in force elsewhere. These factors have contributed to a significant contraction of the national pig industry. There are hundreds of meat products made from the pig which range from sausages to cured meats and fresh pork products.
|
|
|
Passions are running high. First swine fever and then foot and mouth. These diseases are highly contagious causing severe distress to the animal and considerable loss to the producer. All the farmer's stock will be destroyed.
This fine joint of pork contains a stamp on the right which demonstrates that the meat has independently inspected and certified by MLC (Meat and Livestock Commission) and the MHS (Meat Hygiene Service).
Pigs are much cleaner than many people imagine and perform a valuable public service by consuming the by-products of the food processing industry; brewer's waste, dairy products and cereals to name but a few. Pigs are also very efficient producers of lean.
No routine use of antibiotics is allowed in the United Kingdom although the practice of including antibiotics continues in many other countries. In the UK producers are concerned to respond to consumer requirements.
Дата добавления: 2018-02-28; просмотров: 493; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!