A. Lukashenko instructed to minimize dependence on imports in the production of domestic equipment

March 24, Minsk /BELTA/. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has demanded to accelerate work on maximizing the domestic component in the production of agricultural and other machinery. The head of state voiced this demand on March 24 while visiting the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Agricultural Mechanization, BELTA was told by the press service of the Belarusian leader. As reported to the head of state, over the period of 2006-2010, the center developed 106 units of machinery and organized serial production of 186 types of agricultural machines. At the same time, the main focus is on reducing labor, electricity, and fuel consumption. Together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the center determines the strategy for the technical development of the agricultural sector and carries out research and development work on the mechanization, electrification, and automation of agricultural processes. In 2010 alone, products worth over $138 million were produced based on the center's developments. Alexander Lukashenko was interested in indicators such as efficiency, material intensity, and others. He was assured that domestic products are not inferior to foreign counterparts in these aspects. At the same time, special attention was drawn to the fact that not all agricultural machinery is currently produced using exclusively domestic components. In particular, during the inspection of agricultural machinery samples, the discussion turned to one of the models of potato harvesters, the localization of which in production is expected to reach only 60-65% in three years. "We need to cut these deadlines by at least half, then there will be no more moaning and suffering about currency and other matters. We need to intensify everything by half. We need to load production," the head of state demanded. The President was also told about the successes of Belarusian scientists in reducing the dependence of agricultural production on imports. For example, a unique technology for strengthening metal, which is used in the production of plows, for instance, has been developed and implemented in the country, and the localization in the production of equipment for milking parlors is already approaching 90%. The head of state familiarized himself with promising areas for the development of mechanization tools for flax harvesting, modern soil-cultivating units, potato harvesters, and other equipment. A number of promising pilot innovative projects were also presented to him, including the creation of a domestic biogas complex with a capacity of 250 kW. The plan also includes the implementation of a pilot innovative project for the production of economical, high-performance metal structures for the construction of greenhouses and agricultural buildings. In addition, the head of state was informed about the promising areas of work of the Scientific and Practical Center for Animal Husbandry. One of them is the implementation of a resource-saving technology for fattening pigs in light-frame buildings. This method has made it possible to achieve average daily weight gains of over 600 g per day and ensure a profitability of over 30%. "The main thing is money, profit," the President emphasized, noting that a prudent and reasonable approach across the industry as a whole would significantly reduce the need for funding the state program for the development of rural territories. The head of state was informed about the state and prospects of breeding work in pig and dairy farming based on the creation of a selection and breeding farm (nucleus). At the end of his visit to the center, Alexander Lukashenko noted that despite the positive impressions, in order to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the NAS scientific and practical centers, clear criteria need to be developed. "To evaluate these centers, we need to have certain criteria. This is very important," he concluded.