Vitebsk district celebrates its 90th anniversary

Tomorrow, the Vitebsk region celebrates its anniversary – the 90th anniversary of its formation. On the eve of the festive events, we spoke with the Chairman of the Vitebsk District Executive Committee, Ruslan Furashov, about the achievements with which the Pridvinye region is meeting its anniversary.

— Ruslan Vasilyevich, during such holidays, it is customary to recall important deeds and landmark events in the development of one's region. What achievements are you proud of as the head of the district?

— Over the past decade, the Vitebsk region has been developing dynamically: much has been done to improve the standard and quality of life for people. Special attention is paid to the modernization of the agricultural sector and industry, the development of the service sector, and housing construction. According to the results of work in the first half of the current year, most of the socio-economic development forecast indicators have been met: positive foreign trade balance in goods and services has been achieved in the production of industrial, agricultural and innovative products, attraction of investments in fixed capital, construction and commissioning of new housing. Behind the economic statistics figures lies a huge amount of work carried out, primarily at the region's key enterprises. For example, the flagship of agricultural production not only in the region but also in the republic is the broiler poultry farm “Ganna”, where systematic modernization continues. The products of the enterprise, as well as such brands of Pridvinye as OJSC “Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant”, OJSC “BelVitunipharma”, are popular not only in the domestic market but also abroad.

Any success is, first and foremost, the merit of people. In various sectors of the district's economy, there are talented, proactive, hardworking specialists capable of solving the most difficult tasks. At the leading enterprises of the district, OJSC "Rudakovo", SPK "Olgovskoye", SPU "Mazolovogaz", the "Vasilina" factory, and the broiler poultry farm, a clear system of personnel management has been established.

— This year, Belarus celebrated the 70th anniversary of liberation from the German fascist invaders. How did the district prepare for this date?

— There are 105 military burial sites in the district, including 81 mass graves and 24 individual graves. Enterprises, organizations, and institutions are assigned to each of them, and their employees carry out landscaping work at these sites and maintain order.

For heroic feats and courage shown in battles against the German fascist invaders, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 15 natives of the Vitebsk district. For the glorious labor feat of post-war revival, 6 workers of the agro-industrial complex were awarded the Star of the Hero of Socialist Labor. I believe that the younger generation should be educated on their examples. These people are immortalized on the Alley of Glory, which we built for the district's anniversary.

It also features busts of famous natives of the Pridvinye region, scientists, writers, and statesmen who left their mark on the history of our country and their small homeland.

— Last year, the district became the leader in the republic for harvesting grain and leguminous crops. What are the prospects for the 2014 harvest?

— We hope to achieve a result no less than last year's — 100,000 tons of grain in bunker weight. The district's grain acreage is 31,000 hectares. The leaders in grain yield are OJSC «Rudakovo» and SPC «Olgovskoye».

Here, grain growers obtain more than 50 centners of grain per hectare thanks to strict adherence to technologies. Representatives of the work collectives of these enterprises annually win the republican festival-fair of rural workers

«Dozhinki», and receive awards from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for achieving high production indicators. Other farms with fewer material and technical resources are catching up with the best.

— Ruslan Vasilievich, the busy season is just around the corner. How ready are the district's farms for the harvesting campaign?

— Agrarians prepare machinery for field work in advance. Before the harvest, meetings are held with the heads of agricultural enterprises and specialists. Together, we address issues of equipment repair, shortages of fuel and lubricants, or labor resources. Organizations and enterprises of the Pervomaisky district of Vitebsk provide significant assistance to the villages in harvesting the crops.

— And if we touch upon unresolved issues? Which of them are most relevant today for the Pridvinsky region and its residents?

— The main problem of the Vitebsk region is labor migration of citizens, which is gaining momentum every year. Many villagers strive to settle in the city. Work in agriculture involves very heavy physical exertion. Rural workers wake up with the first rays of the sun and work until dark. Labor migration has most significantly affected enterprises in the agro-industrial sector. That is why we are focusing on the widespread modernization of production. We are building modern computerized dairy farms and improving social infrastructure in agro-towns.

— How is the region's natural potential used for tourism development?

— Today, our Pridvinsky region harmoniously combines tradition and modernity and truly possesses enormous potential for the development of various tourism destinations. The region is ideal for outdoor recreation and nature observation. There are 68 lakes and 200 kilometers of rivers in the region. Bodies of water have been designated for recreation areas: Lake Sosno and Losvido, reservoirs in the agro-town of Tulovo and the village of Sokolniki, and sites for the development of ecotourism: the state biological reserve

"Chistik", local natural monuments, dendrological parks "Rubovsky" and "Luzhesnyansky".

There are 13 agro-ecotourism estates in the district, which attract not only Belarusian city dwellers but also guests from other countries. Last year, the estate

"Chistye Klyuchi", located in the village of Kommunarka, was recognized as the best in the region. There are three sanatoriums - "Lettsy", "Zheleznyaki" and "Zheleznodorozhnik", recreation centers.

A lot is being done in the district to create an attractive image of our region in order to attract even more tourists.

— What would you like to say to the residents of Pridvinye on the eve of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Vitebsk region?

— Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate everyone on the anniversary of our small homeland. We are proud of the history of our region and the people who have contributed to its development, and we hope to be worthy successors to their good deeds. I sincerely wish every resident of our hospitable region health, peace and joy, success in their professional endeavors, and family happiness.

Andrey ZAKHAROV, "Vitbichi"

 

PROGRAM OF HOLIDAY EVENTS

July 18. Novka agro-town

10:00 — opening of the exhibition "Pridvinsky Krai. History and Modernity" (foyer of the House of Culture).

13:00 — 13:30 — laying wreaths and flowers at the military burial site.

14:00 — 14:30 — theatrical procession — "We praise you, our Pridvinsky Krai".

14:30 — 15:00 — grand opening of the holiday (area near the RDK).

15:30 — 18:00 — Award ceremony. Festive concert featuring Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus I. Dorofeeva and finalists of the TV project "Talent Academy" - "Heart of My Land" (RDC).

13:00 — 19:00 — Operation of trade facilities, summer cafes, rural council homesteads, exhibition pavilions of district enterprises, masters' town "Talents of the Vitebsk Region". An introductory tour along the alley "Famous People - Natives of the Vitebsk Region" (open area near the RDC).

Sports and game programs, children's playground, attractions. Sightseeing helicopter tour (FSK stadium "Urozhay").

Planetarium operation, astronomical site (Novkinskaya Secondary School).

July 19. Dolzha Village

Sports and entertainment festival

"Sporty, Healthy, Cheerful!".

13:00 — 15:00 —

Neptune Day (Sosno Lake beach).

13:00 — 19:00 — Trade facilities, summer cafes, children's playground, sports and game programs, attractions are operating (cafe

"U Ganny", Sosno Lake beach).