Alexander Lukashenko visited the Orsha district on a working trip
The main activities of the agro-industrial complex include the cultivation of pigs and cattle, and the production and sale of milk, meat, and crop production. The growth rate of gross output for the enterprise as a whole last year was 109.9 percent, including 115.7 percent in animal husbandry. They continue to grow this year as well. For January-May, they grew by almost 15 percent.
President on the results of work in the countryside: if there is discipline, there will be no problems
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko emphasizes the importance of discipline and adherence to technologies in agriculture – then there will be both results and profit. He stated this during his visit to the Yubileiny agro-industrial complex in the Orsha district, a BELTA correspondent reports.
The farm is advanced and exemplary. As the head of state noted, one should visit such places just to look around and relax.
The President was interested in the work of the Yubileiny agro-industrial complex. The enterprise was formed as a result of the merger of several smaller farms, which allowed for the concentration of production forces and fodder base.
The discussion also included approaches to sowing winter crops, including winter barley, the advantages of which were previously considered during the head of state's working trip to the Shklovsky district. This crop is important for ensuring a complete fodder base in animal husbandry.
Alexander Lukashenko also inquired in detail about a number of other aspects of the agro-industrial complex's work, including issues of equipment provision.
The progress of herbaceous fodder procurement was discussed on a national scale. This was reported by the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Igor Brylo. The regions are adhering to the previously developed plan, and the situation is developing positively.
A separate issue is the preparation of polymer film. Part of the material was purchased through imports, and there are also Belarusian analogues, but their cost is also quite high. And here is the President's strict requirement, including in the context of import substitution.
"The government must maintain the strictest control to ensure that this film is available within a year. This is a promising technology," the President instructed. "For the Vitebsk region, this is salvation. But it needs to be cheaper. The film must be available. And this technology must be cheap, accessible to less prosperous farms. If this process is cheap, no one will need to be persuaded."
Alexander Lukashenko also asked how the minister assesses the development of the Vitebsk region in the agricultural sector. "I need results. There must be order here. Discipline is needed. If there is discipline, there will be no problems," he stressed, noting that this issue for the region should be under the special control of the minister.
At the agro-combination, the head of state familiarized himself with the work of the "Kupalinka" dairy complex. Here, he drew attention to another important issue that requires attention in the agricultural sector – livestock preservation. "You will answer with your heads for livestock losses," the Belarusian leader warned.
He recalled what he had said the day before – there is a high global demand for food. "We can sell our products at a good price," Alexander Lukashenko noted.
During the Head of State's visit, problematic issues in the regional context were also discussed. One of them is land reclamation. Alexander Lukashenko gave specific instructions on this matter, ordering to determine the financing scheme and the scope of work.
The President also touched upon the development of raw material zones. He emphasized that private agricultural organizations should participate in this work on an equal footing with state ones.
In conclusion, Alexander Lukashenko visited the machine yard at the agro-industrial complex, familiarized himself with the condition and maintenance of the equipment. A number of practical issues were also discussed, including the surfacing of the platform. The President prioritizes concrete over asphalt for the surfacing.
Another practical aspect is finding an optimal solution for heating workshops in the winter period, ensuring it is not only effective but also cost-efficient.
The President sees prospects in further consolidation of farms in the agro-industrial complex
"We will still move towards large companies," said the Head of State.
According to him, modern realities demand it – to unite, to annex lands.
Alexander Lukashenko did not rule out that in a certain perspective, such a large farm as "Yubileiny" may also significantly expand its territories.
At the same time, the Head of State drew attention to personnel training based on such farms. "We need to train our own personnel," he stressed.
The main activities of the agro-industrial complex include raising pigs and cattle, production and sale of pork and beef for food purposes, production and sale of milk, and crop production.
Currently, the farm has 11.7 thousand hectares of agricultural land. The growth rate of gross output for the enterprise as a whole in 2021 was 109.9%, including 115.7% in livestock farming and 99.3% in crop production. The growth rate of gross output for January-May 2022 is 114.6%.
The "Kupalinka" dairy farm was commissioned in July 2020. The complex is filled to 93.8% capacity. From January to May 2022, 8.4 thousand tons of milk were produced here, with a milk yield per cow of almost 4.2 thousand kg. Milk is sold exclusively in the extra grade.
Alexander Lukashenko: A golden age has arrived for agriculture
It is necessary to take advantage of the favorable food price situation on the world market and work well in agriculture over the next couple of years.
"A golden age has arrived for agriculture. The situation is such that we must work well in agriculture this year and next year at all costs. Because your products, especially those sold abroad, are worth a lot of money. Food prices have risen incredibly. Therefore, we must be able to take what is rightfully ours. For agriculture, I say directly, such a golden age has arrived. How long it will last, no one knows. But I am convinced that these and the next years will be ours – for those involved in agricultural production and food production," the Belarusian leader emphasized. "Therefore, no matter how difficult it may be, you must earn your money during these years. In order to improve your financial situation, pay off some loans, and continue to work calmly."
Alexander Lukashenko praised the "Yubileiny" agro-combination for its good work: "You are doing great, you are working well. In a sense, you are an example for the Vitebsk region, and for the country on certain issues. In terms of how to build a farm. The crops are good, there are almost no remarks."
The President noted the advantages of working in agriculture, which he himself experienced in his time as head of a farm. "Everything is alive, and you see the results of your labor," he said.
In this regard, he advised that, where possible, the children of the agro-industrial complex workers should also link their future with agriculture. Moreover, for promising young people from rural areas, there is an opportunity for targeted enrollment in universities, and specialties in the agro-industrial complex are currently in high demand. "Yes, it's not easy here, it's always difficult, but it's interesting. I am sure," noted the Belarusian leader.
"Thank you again for taking the risk to work in agriculture and for working. I know that not everything is going smoothly. But your farm is not bad. You have everything in your hands to live a normal life," the head of state concluded.
In five years, Belarus will be different if we seize the moment
In five years, Belarus will be different if we manage to seize the moment now, including due to the global food shortage. The head of state noted that in recent years, comfortable living and working conditions have been created in rural areas. This is being done, among other things, to retain young people.
The President recalled that at his insistence, agro-towns were developed in Belarus. Their goal was precisely to create more comfortable living conditions in rural areas in order to retain people in the regions. However, all this will not yield results if jobs and decent working conditions are not created, the head of state emphasized. "But they will be nothing if there is no good equipment, no good complexes – a machine yard, a grain drying area, if there are no good working conditions. By the way, we had a distortion at first: we created agro-towns, but technologies and equipment lagged behind. And now we are starting to catch up," said Alexander Lukashenko. "This is not a quick process, not one farm, but thousands of them. But in five years, the country will be different, including in agriculture, if we take advantage of this moment when food prices have risen all over the world."
/To be continued/
"BELTA"