N.N. Sherstnev: The human factor is at the root of the shortcomings
On ensuring close interaction with the economic entities of the region, Alexander Kapsul was oriented by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, during an interview when approving his appointment as director of the republican subsidiary unitary enterprise for petroleum products supply "Belorusneft-Vitebskobleneftoprodukt" during the "personnel day" held this week.
For the previous five years, A. Kapsul worked as a deputy to his predecessor, knows the region's problems in his field of work firsthand, and understands that the region will require maximum effort to carry out the harvesting campaign. The enterprise, despite the fact that its margin of safety is also not unlimited, is ready to "lend a shoulder" by providing loans to the districts for the purchase of the necessary amount of fuel. Because today the task of state importance is to harvest the grain.
The main block of approvals traditionally concerned the heads of processing and agricultural enterprises of the agro-industrial complex. Even a cursory analysis of the economy of such farms as the "Poludetki" branch of OJSC "Moloko" of Vitebsk, OJSC "Zadrovye" of Orsha, "Zelenka" of Polotsk, "Novogorody" of Miory districts shows that it is limping, as they say, on both legs due to inefficient management.
In the same "Zadrovye" enterprise, three managers have been replaced over the past two years, which has led to the virtual collapse of the farm. Crop yield per hectare of agricultural land does not exceed 34 centners, which is at least half the corresponding figure for successful farms. The small size of the milking herd does not allow for decent income from sold milk, but requires a full range of agricultural machinery for fodder harvesting. As a result, instead of income, there are losses.
However, it is possible to restore order in such a small enterprise as "Zadrovye". The chairman of the regional executive committee has instructed the newly appointed director of the farm, Nikolai Narchuk, to actively use his managerial experience gained while heading the "Experimental Base Ustye" agricultural enterprise in the Orsha district. Especially since there is an impressive example of effective land management nearby – the "Larinovka" agricultural production cooperative.
Anatoly Lisovsky, director of the "Poludetki" branch of OJSC "Moloko" in the Vitebsk district, has held his current position for eight years. However, he has little to boast about in terms of achievements so far: grain yield in 2013 was only 36 centners per hectare, and in 2014 it was 38 centners per hectare. The head of the region sees the reason for the modest results of the local grain growers in the non-compliance with technological requirements during sowing, cultivation, harvesting of grain, and soil cultivation, as well as in the ill-conceived structure of sown areas.
Due to a shortage of financial resources, the construction of a new farm has been frozen at an almost final stage. Although there is nothing preventing its completion through own efforts, which would be both cheaper and faster. The fact that for almost the last ten years, the daily weight gain of cattle has been slightly over 500 grams also speaks against the local workers.
The situation is far from brilliant at JSC "Zelyonka" of the Polotsk district, headed by Yuri Moroz. Arable land is about 1.5 thousand hectares, with a soil quality rating not exceeding 18 units – practically sand. The cultivated crops are not selected considering the soil characteristics. This leads to deplorable results: the highest yield over the last five years was 18 centners per hectare. None of the planned indicators are being met.
JSC "Novogordy" of the Miory district has been headed by Irina Kulesh since 2011. The foundation for normal operation of the farm is also absent here. The agricultural machinery fleet is worn out, which prevents timely sowing campaigns. In turn, violation of the technological process sharply reduces yield, which last year did not exceed 18 centners per hectare. Cattle weight gain is around 500 grams per day, and their density is at least half the required level. It's shameful to say, but the milk yield per cow per year is 2 300 liters. How hard must one try to make her milk like a goat? With such management, the revenue per employee at "Novogordy" is barely enough for the minimum wage and tax payments.
Meanwhile, in small agricultural enterprises, every patch of land can be cultivated, and every head of cattle can be looked after perfectly. But in practice, this does not happen. Why? Behind this lies our biggest problem – with rare exceptions, there are no good, strong farm managers in the countryside today.
Nikolai Sherstnev stated with regret that the human factor underlies all the shortcomings in the work of agricultural enterprises. Many managers lack the economic training necessary to manage an agricultural enterprise. They do not analyze why negative profitability persists year after year, cannot explain what constitutes the cost of production, or how to reduce production costs. People seem to be stuck in the last century, when everything "fell into place on its own."
But times have changed, and "it will sort itself out" is no longer an option! And since we don't have other personnel, we will have to seriously focus on training the existing ones, the head of the region summarized. Apparently, the program of field days, aimed at familiarizing the heads of district agricultural departments with modern agrotechnologies and innovations in agricultural machinery, which has been in practice since Nikolai Sherstnev came to the region, will not be enough. It is necessary to organize short economics courses for the village's director corps. In addition, each agricultural enterprise will now have to have a program for further development, approved at the regional executive committee level. In the meantime, all the aforementioned managers have received approval for contract extensions with a significant portion of advance payment.
The work of OJSC "Orshaagroprommash" is directly related to agricultural production. In particular, the enterprise supplies the region's farmers with reversible plows with pneumatic-hydraulic protection for furrow plowing. Igor Sinyakov has been at its helm for 7 years, having started his career here as a turner's apprentice. The phrase "the plant is my destiny" is not an empty one for him. He sincerely wants to preserve the enterprise and provide people with jobs. However, the fact that the plant has not found its niche in the market is an unforgivable oversight. Today, a competent entrepreneur, starting from scratch, develops production, while here there was such a powerful material base, a professional team, and all of it turned out to be in demand.
The enterprise's problem is that its products have to follow in the wake of MTZ tractors. If Minsk Tractor Works has no sales, production at "Orshaagroprommash" grinds to a halt. And although recently they have been maximally expanding services for agricultural machinery repair, and the plant's marketers, in search of new markets, have reached such exotic countries for us as Guinea, Tanzania, and Cuba, this does not save the situation as a whole. The number of employees has decreased to 170 people, and the average salary is slightly above the established minimum.
The Chairman of the regional executive committee sees a way out in maximizing the workload of the work collective with orders for the region's agricultural enterprises. No Africa will save us, he emphasized, if the managers do not learn to work in the current conditions and make the most of the available opportunities first and foremost. But, alas, at the recent Field Week in the Bryansk region, there were no representatives from Orsha agro-industrial machine builders – apparently, they got delayed somewhere in Tanzania...
The representative of the construction industry, Director of JSC "Precast Reinforced Concrete Plant No. 3 of Vitebsk" Alexander Golovachev, also cannot boast of the enterprise's stability. Falling construction volumes in Belarus and Russia have led to a sharp decrease in demand for the main products. As a survival strategy, the plant workers, albeit with a delay, have chosen an active search for new sources of income. In particular, they have started producing concrete and crushed stone for the population. It is necessary to search for new customers to provide work and preserve the work collective, demanded Nikolai Sherstnev.
Today, one of the most important tasks of a manager is to remember that behind him stands a work collective that must be provided with work and a decent salary. This requires ensuring the continuity of the cycle: produce goods – sell goods – pay wages – organize production. How – everyone decides for themselves. Just as they are responsible for the result.
Lyudmila Myshlyonok,
Chief Specialist of the Main Department
of Ideological Work, Culture
and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee