Harvesters from the Vitebsk region received awards from the head of state at the "Dazhynki-2013" festival in Zhlobin.

For the seventeenth time, Belarus hosted the republican festival-fair of agricultural workers "Dazhynki". This year, the hospitable capital of the celebration was the city of Zhlobin, Gomel region.

The delegation from Vitebsk region was welcomed with bread and salt at the border of Gomel and Mogilev regions in Rogachevsky district and accommodated at the sanatorium "Pridneprovsky", where Russians are currently mainly recuperating. By the way, for two evenings the local dance floor was overcrowded. The cultural workers of the sanatorium claim that this has never happened before, and our guys proved that they know how not only to work well, but also to relax in a lively and cultured way.

March of the Winners

Before moving to the capital of "Dazhynki", an excursion around Rogachev was organized for the Vitebsk region's grain growers. This city is located next to Zhlobin and is also situated on the Dnieper River. On behalf of the delegation, the chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Committee for Agriculture and Food, Sergey Dogel, laid flowers at the monument to the liberator soldiers.

The solemn procession of the winners of the republican competition began from a new residential microdistrict of Zhlobin. At the front of the column, a 200-kilogram loaf of bread was carried on the roof of a car. For several kilometers to the main concert venue, set up in the city center on Metallurgov Boulevard, the heroes of the harvest were greeted by residents and guests of the city.

Zhlobin greeted the arrivals noticeably renewed. In a short period, more than 300 facilities were built and reconstructed here. A hotel for 114 people and a sports hall with stands for 1.5 thousand spectators were erected. The Palace of Culture of Metallurgists was renovated in high-tech style. The auto and railway stations were transformed. The latter, by the way, after the electrification of part of the line, already receives electric trains from Minsk.

Over 200 trade organizations from all over Belarus worked to serve the guests of the festival-fair, with pavilions located along a 5 km stretch. Street cafes could accommodate 8.5 thousand visitors simultaneously. Dozens of units of equipment from Belarusian manufacturers were presented on a huge site – from Gomselmash, MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor. Near modern combines and tractors, festival guests took numerous photos. Cars from the recently created Belarusian-Chinese joint venture BelGee aroused particular interest. Those who wished could appreciate the comfort of the interior and look under the hood.

Stability is a sign of mastery

The event was opened by the Chairman of the organizing committee of the festival-fair "Dazhynki-2013", Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Rusy. Welcoming the participants, he said that even in this year's weather conditions, the entire complex of sowing and harvesting work was carried out without unnecessary hype. The results of labor in the grain fields once again convincingly testify that Belarusian land can stably yield a significant harvest of grain and other agricultural products under any conditions. The achieved indicators are a consequence of the constant renewal of the technical fleet. But the main thing is people. Namely, the high skill of machine operators, the professional level of specialists, and the heads of agricultural enterprises. The villagers worked well not only in the grain fields. A good harvest of sugar beet, potatoes, and vegetables was grown. This allows for fully meeting the needs of the processing industry, trade, and public catering. A significant part of the products will be supplied for export, which will amount to about 6 billion dollars in total. On behalf of the government, Mikhail Rusy expressed gratitude to all villagers for their dedicated work. Then Mikhail Ivanovich and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Leonid Zayats presented awards to the prize-winning participants of "Dazhynki". More than 25 representatives from the Vitebsk region came onto the stage. Honorary diplomas and cash prizes ranging from 5 to 20 million rubles were awarded to combine operators, drivers, and grain drying unit operators.

Traditionally, the results of the republican review competition "High-yield farming, improvement of machine yards, livestock farms and complexes" were summarized. Among the regions of Vitebsk Oblast, Liozno District was noted. Representatives of Liozno District also won in the republican competition of the family agricultural project "Master of the Village", which is held under the auspices of the BRSM. Vitaly and Nadezhda Kulakov from the agro-town of Adamanki were recognized as the best at the final stage, held at "Dazhynki-2013". And their five children - Ivan, Ekaterina, Vladimir, Evgeny, and two-year-old Alina became the youngest members of the Vitebsk Oblast delegation.

For the first time, the competition "Miss Dazhynki" was held. 18 beauties competed for the title, three from each region. The winner was recognized as Svetlana Gorbacheva, a student from Vitebsk.

Climax of the festival

The main events of "Dazhynki-2013" took place with the participation of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday.

The Head of State noted that this holiday traditionally summarizes the results of the grain harvest:

— Seventeen years ago, reviving the "Dazhynki", we tried not only to preserve ancient customs but also to give them new life. Modern "Dazhynki" contribute to increasing the prestige of labor in the land, attracting the attention of youth to agricultural professions.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that over the past 20 years, the country has moved from empty shelves and food coupons to an abundance of food, exporting agricultural products worth $5 billion. In sovereign Belarus, unlike any other CIS country, a reliable base for the agro-industrial complex has been created, powerful tractor and automotive plants, enterprises for agricultural machinery production and fertilizer production are operating, which meet the needs of Belarusian farmers and actively promote products to the foreign market. For several years, in terms of per capita production of key agricultural products, Belarus has ranked first among the CIS countries, and in terms of grain, it is on par with the famous all-Union granaries – Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In grain production, Belarus has caught up with Germany, and in milk production, it is about twice as far ahead of agriculturally developed European countries. Relatively small Belarus is among the top five global leaders in the export of dairy products.

However, modern realities demand even higher results.

According to the head of state, the management mechanisms formed during the revival of the village, which ensured the growth of gross output of the agro-industrial complex, require significant adjustment today. It is important not only to produce but also to profitably sell the fruits of one's labor, thereby strengthening the economy of agricultural enterprises. Annually, the state invests almost 2 billion rubles in the agricultural sector. In the near future, such support will be provided selectively, only for targeted programs for the development of the agro-industrial complex sectors and large investment projects that will yield quick returns.

By tradition, Alexander Lukashenko awarded the winners of the republican competition for the harvesting of grain and leguminous crops who took first place. Diplomas, valuable gifts, and cash prizes were received from the head of state by representatives of the Vitebsk region - heads of districts, farms, chief specialists, and, of course, machine operators. The following individuals ascended the stage: Ruslan Furashov, Chairman of the Vitebsk District Executive Committee, and his first deputy, Yuri Vishilov; directors of agricultural enterprises Vyacheslav Krishtafovich (OJSC «Khotily-Agro») and Sergey Chaprovsky (OJSC «Zhviranka» of Sharkovshchyna district); chief agronomists Alexander Kaplun (SPC «Larinovka» of Orsha district) and Vasily Shilov (OJSC «Prudinki» of Verkhnedvinsk district); chief engineers Sergey Yushchenko (SPC «Larinovka» of Orsha district) and Semen Kibisov (OJSC «Lipovtsy» of Vitebsk district). Combine operators Vyacheslav Anikovich (OJSC «Torguny» of Dokshitsy district) and Viktor Shamenok (OJSC «Uzmensky Krai» of Miory district) received a Belarusian-assembled «Geely» car each.

Vyacheslav Anikovich was noticeably nervous before going on stage. But then he skillfully gave interviews to journalists. After the award ceremony, the combine operator was congratulated by members of the delegation from Dokshitsky District, which included the First Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee, Natalia Bortnik, the head of OJSC "Torguny" Alexander Tulovsky, and three colleagues from his home farm. His eldest son, Evgeny, called from Minsk. His wife, Tatyana, who works as a cow milking machine operator, contacted her husband later, as she was on the evening milking shift. They also called his elder brother Valery, who took over Vyacheslav's "Jaguar" and substituted for him for four days during the corn harvest. The Anikovich family owns a "Volkswagen Golf 4" car, but the gift from the President will also occupy a worthy place in the garage. In the spring, the younger son Ivan will return from the army, and his father will give him the right to choose his preferred car.

The day after their return, all the nominated machine operators of "Dozhynki" went out to the fields: the agricultural season is not over yet.

Alexander Lukashenko expressed confidence that the "Dozhynki" festival-fair has a future. However, the head of state suggested thinking about how to hold it more effectively, in a new format, and celebrate this holiday more widely in the regions. The next festival-fair will be hosted by the Vitebsk region, namely, Gorodok.

Sergey Lyashuk, "Vitebskiye Vesti"