The modernization of flax processing plants in Belarus is planned to be completed in 2013

September 21, Minsk /BelTA/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed to make all flax industry enterprises in Belarus profitable within three years. He gave this instruction on September 21 during a working trip to the Vitebsk region, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader. "Three years is our timeframe to achieve profitability in flax production as a whole and for the production of a larger volume of end products," the head of state said. Upon arrival at Dubrovensky Flax Mill OJSC, Alexander Lukashenko, addressing the officials present, immediately stated that "there are two topics left that we haven't looked at in depth – flax production and sugar beet." "We have dealt with corn, with the harvest of grain crops, grass is more or less okay, and potatoes. Now flax remains, about which we talk a lot, and we have made many decisions, and sugar beet," the President noted. At the same time, he observed that, unlike flax, the situation with sugar beet production and processing is quite good thanks to the measures taken earlier. "But, nevertheless, we will look into it. In the future, we must build a new sugar factory in the Mogilev region. It needs to be built very quickly, and we also need to create another zone for sugar beet production, because the demand for sugar will be high," the Belarusian leader is confident. As for flax, Alexander Lukashenko noted that based on the information he receives, "we are working extremely poorly." He drew the attention of officials to the need for faster implementation of the decisions made during the meeting in the spring of this year at the Orsha Flax Combine. One of the serious shortcomings is that the technology for harvesting flax straw is still not being followed, which leads to a significant decrease in the quality of flax fiber. There are still mass idle times of specialized equipment used in the production of flax raw materials. The cost of flax fiber has significantly increased, which reduces the competitiveness of the products. The issue of a shortage of high-quality seed material has not been removed from the agenda. "I want you to tell me what has been done," the President said. As reported to Alexander Lukashenko, flax raw materials are in high demand on foreign markets, and this year the traditionally high demand has been supplemented by the factor of a poor harvest of this crop in other European countries. However, the head of state emphasized that even if there is no opportunity to access foreign markets, it is necessary to process domestic flax fiber into fabrics and provide schools, kindergartens, the military, etc., with flax bedding and other products. As an example, he noted that he himself uses flax bedding. "Flax will exist in Belarus. I do not want us to repeat the situation with potatoes," the President emphasized, referring to the fact that it is now necessary to restore the production of this crop in Belarus due to incorrect decisions made decades ago. In addition, Alexander Lukashenko noted that flax has a unique political significance in Belarus, as it is part of the national culture and is depicted on the coat of arms of the republic. "We will demand no less for flax than for grain," the Belarusian leader said. The prospect of creating a flax production and processing holding in the Vitebsk region based on the Orsha Flax Combine was also discussed. It is planned that the holding will include flax mills, its own distribution network in Belarus and abroad. In addition, within the framework of the holding, interaction will be established with the flax seed stations of the republic, the Flax Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, sewing factories, the banking sector, etc. Alexander Lukashenko instructed the interested parties to thoroughly work through all issues and begin the creation of the holding from April next year. He stressed the need to implement all planned plans and programs for the development of the flax industry in Belarus as quickly as possible. The head of state was informed about the plans for modernizing the country's flax processing enterprises. For example, for the modernization of Orsha Flax Combine RUPTP, it is planned to attract over Br505 billion from various sources in 2010-2013. This will increase the volume of flax fiber processing, boost product exports, and ultimately significantly increase the average wages at the enterprise. During the discussion of plans for the technical re-equipment of flax processing enterprises, Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that existing infrastructure and capital buildings should be approached in a thrifty manner. Where possible, during modernization, they should be completed, brought into proper condition, but in no case should they be mindlessly demolished. Where this is still necessary, a financially sound approach should also be taken to the construction of new buildings so that they are both inexpensive and functional. "We don't need reinforced concrete, as in Soviet times," said Alexander Lukashenko, noting that such facilities should be built from modern light metal structures. The head of state familiarized himself with an exhibition of various flax products, a modern machine complex for cultivating and processing this crop, and technological processes for processing flax straw. An exhibition of agricultural machinery produced at enterprises in the Vitebsk region was presented to the head of state. In March of this year, Alexander Lukashenko also visited the Orsha Flax Combine to familiarize himself with the situation in the country's flax industry and the implementation of his instructions. At that time, the President expressed firm confidence that the flax industry and the production of flax products in Belarus can and must be competitive, and stressed the unacceptability of curtailing the flax industry in the country. Over the past five years, the head of state has given about 70 instructions to the government on the development of the flax industry. Dubrovensky Flax Mill OJSC was established in 1997 by transforming the state enterprise of the same name. The main activity is the production of flax fiber. The enterprise supplies about 80% of its flax fiber to the Orsha Flax Combine; the remaining fiber is used for the production of technical products (twine, flax wadding). In 2008, a line for the production of long flax fiber from the Belgian company Van Dommele was installed at the enterprise, with a design capacity of processing 2 tons of flax straw per hour. The production capacity of the flax mill for flax fiber production is 2100 tons per year. This year, the technology for cultivating and harvesting flax using the European method is being tested in the fields of the Dubrovensky Flax Mill. Currently, 158 flax-sowing organizations are engaged in flax cultivation in Belarus, 36 flax mills, 5 branches, 6 sections and 2 workshops, 5 export sorting bases, and 16 flax seed stations are operating. For 8 months of this year, flax mills in the republic produced 23 thousand tons of flax fiber, including 4.6 thousand tons of long fiber and 18.4 thousand tons of short fiber. The share of long flax fiber in the total volume was 20.1%. In recent years, the consolidation of agricultural organizations cultivating flax has been carried out in the country. It is planned that by 2015, about 100 such organizations will be operating. The average yield is expected to increase from the current 8 centners/ha to 10.7 centners/ha. High performance is planned to be achieved, including through the purchase of modern equipment for agricultural organizations cultivating flax. The cost of such equipment, which the government plans to purchase in 2011-2015, is about Br430 billion. In addition, in 2013, it is planned to complete the re-equipment of flax mills. The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, also reported to the President on the socio-economic development of the region as a whole. According to the governor, profitability in industry is about 8%. Agriculture operates at approximately the same level, but only thanks to state subsidies. In this regard, the head of state set the task for the Vitebsk region to achieve positive profitability in agricultural production next year without taking into account state subsidies, as is the case in other regions. Alexander Kosinets informed the President that by 2015, the region plans to achieve a profitability of 5.7% in agriculture without taking into account state subsidies. He also reported on the progress of creating herds of beef breeds in the region, the development of farming, work on increasing the contour of fields, etc. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out the need to accelerate work in all areas in order to achieve high profitability as quickly as possible, not only in agriculture but also in other sectors of the economy. At the same time, the President once again noted that the state will continue to provide support to agriculture, but it will become more targeted, and funds will be allocated for the most promising projects.-0-