The quark-antiquark contribution to the BFKL kernel is calculated. Usi
ng the effective vertex for the <q(q)over bar> pair production in the
Reggeon-Reggeon collision we find this contribution by integrating the
square of this vertex over relative transverse momenta and fractions
of longitudinal momenta of produced particles. (C) 1998 Published by E
lsevier Science B.V.