A. Lukashenko instructed to thoroughly check the readiness of agricultural organizations for spring field work

April 1, Minsk region / Vladimir Matveev - BELTA /. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, during a working trip to the Minsk region, instructed to thoroughly check the readiness of agricultural organizations for spring field work, a BELTA correspondent reports. In particular, the head of state paid special attention to the degree of readiness of equipment and the conditions for storing mineral fertilizers. As reported to the President by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Mikhail Rusy, this year the country's agricultural enterprises will be provided with mineral fertilizers at 100% for the first time. In general, the storage of imported mineral fertilizers is organized at the proper level, however, the head of state demanded that attention be focused on negative facts. "Look fundamentally at all farms and act in the harshest possible way. Today, everyone walks around and cries: write off loans, - and expensive fertilizers lie under the open sky," Alexander Lukashenko said, addressing the Chairman of the State Control Committee Alexander Yakobson. At the same time, he stressed that there is no need to travel around the country in brigades, but it is necessary to ask fundamentally in each region from two to three people. The President also demanded to report to him on the fulfillment of previously given instructions on the readiness of agricultural machinery. According to Alexander Yakobson, the readiness of equipment ranges from 92% to 96%. "This is equipment, this is people's lives, and this is an expensive thing," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "Take selective control and look in individual districts, especially in those that concern us the most, without touching those where they work normally." Reacting to Alexander Yakobson's remarks that, on average across the republic, the staffing of agricultural organizations with machine operators is about 88%, Alexander Lukashenko stressed that governors should deal with this issue, but the equipment must be prepared and be in perfect condition. Moreover, he noted that the state's enhanced control in this matter is justified, as it was the state that allocated funds for the purchase of equipment. "If he (the head of the agricultural enterprise. - Ed. BELTA) buys it with his own money, well, God be with you. When he buys it with his own money, he will store it like his own car," Alexander Lukashenko noted, adding that in other respects, strict control is necessary in this matter, so that there is no need to spend huge amounts of money on purchasing new equipment. In general, the head of state noted that the state will continue to support agricultural producers in terms of technical equipment, but the volume of this support should decrease. "We cannot provide support to the countryside in the same way today as in previous years," the President said, noting that almost $50 billion was spent on these purposes over the past five years. "This is a huge amount. There should be no excesses," he stressed. Alexander Lukashenko believes that farms that have already received support and are working more or less well should gradually purchase the necessary equipment themselves. "We need to focus on this. And we will help," the head of state said. As reported to the President by Mikhail Rusy, spring field work in the country has begun in full swing. Active top dressing of winter crops, rapeseed, perennial grasses and pastures is underway. Agricultural organizations are provided with seeds and mineral fertilizers in the required quantities. Also, sowing equipment is in a high degree of readiness. According to the minister, this year about 600 high-power tractors will be additionally involved in sowing, and there are about 4.8 thousand of them in total across the republic. The situation with the death of winter crops in the fields is also within the normal range. Where necessary, resowing will be carried out, for which there are more than 60 thousand tons of seed stocks. Alexander Lukashenko noted that this issue also needs to be approached in a businesslike manner. "We will sow, and the remaining seeds must be sold. Keep for yourself as much as you need minimally, and from the new harvest we will fully restore this seed fund," he said. In general, according to Mikhail Rusy, Belarusian agrarians plan to complete sowing early grain crops by May 1, flax - by May 5, potatoes and corn - by May 9. Alexander Lukashenko paid special attention to the need to increase agricultural production in the country and improve its efficiency due to the fact that demand for these products in neighboring and other countries will only grow in the future. "If we make agriculture profitable within five years (without state support. - Ed. BELTA), the country will live. When we reach 10-12% profitability in agriculture per year, we will forget that we have problems on the land," the Belarusian leader concluded. -0-