Nikolai Sherstnev visited the Orsha enterprise for growing and processing medicinal plants "Kalina"
In the village of Pishchalovo, since 1996, the company has been engaged in the cultivation, harvesting, and procurement of medicinal plant raw materials, followed by processing and production of finished medicinal plant products, herbal preparations, and crop products.
Today, OOO "Kalina" boasts over 130 types of finished products, 1159 hectares of land, 35 jobs, a production building, modern equipment, and a machine and tractor fleet.
– The enterprise has carried out a comprehensive modernization of the drying complex, which has allowed us to increase the volume of raw material drying and processing. In this regard, we are working on introducing new lines. These include the production of dried fruits and vegetables, essential and vegetable oils, – told Vladimir Murashko, Director of OOO "Kalina," in a conversation with journalists.
With the commissioning of a modern complex in 2015, which includes production and auxiliary buildings, drying workshops, warehouses, etc., the volume of manufactured products has increased, and the range of products has expanded. For example, in January 2019, the production of black tea (raw materials are supplied from India) was mastered, both in its pure form and with herbal additives.
The enterprise's products are sold through the pharmacy network to state organizations of the "Farmatsiya" system, as well as to domestic wholesale buyers for further sale through pharmacy networks of various ownership forms.
– We are closely cooperating with Vitebsk State Medical University on research and development in the field of cultivation and industrial implementation of medicinal plant materials, acting as an experimental base for growing medicinal plants, preparing scientific material, and developing new types of products, – stated Vladimir Murashko. – Also, Kalina LLC is one of the few enterprises in Belarus that provides production with its own raw materials (substances) grown in compliance with all ecological, biological, and agrochemical requirements.
By the way, such a closed-loop system ensures the necessary quality control of raw materials and products at each stage. Students and schoolchildren are actively involved in collecting herbs (rosehip, rowan, tansy, raspberry leaves, etc.).
Having familiarized himself with the production, Nikolai Sherstnev noted that the necessary base has been created here, and there are developments. But this is not enough.
– We need to move forward more boldly, to develop, – summarized the head of the region. – This means expanding production and increasing its volume. And today the question is how to do it. The first problem that lies on the surface is the lack of gas. It is unacceptable that the village of Pishchalovo, which is quite large and located near Orsha, is not supplied with gas. With the arrival of blue fuel, the enterprise will be able to reach a completely new level.
Nikolai Sherstnev sees the organization of a procurement and sales network as the second important aspect of further development.
