The Orsha region must use all internal reserves for a sharp leap forward - A. Lukashenko

August 4, Orsha District /Corr. BELTA/. The Orsha District should become a base in the Vitebsk Region for the development of intensive technologies in agricultural production. This was demanded by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who visited the Orsha District on August 4, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The second day of the President's working trip to the regions of the country was devoted to agricultural and energy topics.

These issues were the focus of Alexander Lukashenko's familiarization with the work and development prospects of the Belarusian State District Power Station, the "Teplichny" branch, OJSC "Orshanskaya Poultry Farm", OJSC "Yubileiny".

Alexander Lukashenko immediately explained that the main goal of his visit was to promote the development of the Orsha District to the level of a regional base.

The President cited the Gorki District of the Mogilev Region, which he visited the day before, as a positive example. The Head of State believes that the new head of the Gorki District is on the right track: "The Chairman of the District Executive Committee has gone through all the directions, clearly indicated what needs to be done, and determined the optimal number of farms - leaving 12 out of 15. The planned "Dazhynki" in Gorki for next year should stimulate the development of this region, and it will become a base in the Mogilev Region."

The Orsha District should become a similar flagship in the Vitebsk Region. "The base for promising development here is good. We just need to be clear about everything. If any associations are needed, then associate. But this is not an end in itself, everything must be done reasonably, taking into account economic efficiency," said Alexander Lukashenko.

At the same time, the President expressed the opinion that "without mobilizing internal reserves, we will not bring Orsha to a higher level." The Head of State expressed the wish that "everything possible should be done here for a sharp leap forward, and we will help if necessary, the main thing is that there is a benefit."

It is in the Orsha district that new intensive agricultural technologies are planned to be implemented, and then the acquired experience will be disseminated to other districts of this part of the Vitebsk region. In this, according to Alexander Lukashenko, lies the importance of creating base districts in the regions. "Other districts with similar farming conditions will look up to you," the President said, addressing the residents of Orsha. "We need to create base, typical districts, whose experience others will then learn from."

The Orsha district was not chosen by chance as a base in the Vitebsk region for mastering intensive technologies. In many indicators, both in crop production and animal husbandry, it is already a leader. Significant attention is paid in the district to the introduction of intensive technologies for milk and meat production. Targeted work is being carried out to improve farming practices, soil fertility, and optimize the structure of sown areas.

The structure of sown areas in the district is mainly formed, and no significant changes are planned in the coming years. The main direction is further intensification of crop production, strict adherence to the requirements of technological regulations. By 2015, through intensive factors, the gross grain harvest is planned to be increased to 190 thousand tons with a yield of 52 centners per hectare, rapeseed oilseeds – to 20.8 thousand tons (32 centners per hectare), potatoes – to 24 thousand tons (350 centners per hectare), flax fiber – to 1.3 thousand tons (14-15 centners per hectare).

Currently, the district faces the task of achieving self-sufficiency. To this end, it is necessary to achieve a grain yield of at least 50 centners per hectare, produce at least 24 thousand tons of meat, 6 thousand tons of vegetables, and 150 thousand tons of grain. The district is practically reaching many of these indicators already this year.

The topics of small-scale energy development, the transition to the use of local fuels for electricity and heat generation, and peat extraction were the focus of the President's attention during his familiarization with the work of the Belarusian State Regional Power Plant in the town of Orekhovsk, Orsha district.

The Vitebskenergo branch "Belarusian State District Power Station" was established in 1927, making it one of the oldest Belarusian power enterprises. The power station generated its first industrial electricity in 1930. Initially, the station operated on lump peat and supplied electricity to Mogilev, Shklov, Orsha, and Dubrovno. In the post-war years, a targeted modernization of the power station was carried out. In the 1980s, the district power station began using fuel oil. From 1997 to 2003, the district power station was converted to natural gas combustion.

In 2006, a project was successfully implemented to construct a power unit at the station (a boiler with a capacity of 20 tons of steam per hour and a 1.5 MW turbine) operating on a mixture of wood fuel and peat. Thus, six years ago, the station began transitioning to local fuels.

The Head of State was informed that the share of local fuel types at the district power station is currently 60%, with natural gas accounting for 40%.

In 2012, the station will completely switch to local fuel types. This will be possible thanks to a new boiler unit of domestic production, which will be installed at the district power station by the end of this year. The pilot experimental boiler model was built at the Belyozersk Power Engineering Mechanical Plant. This equipment will be used to develop the technology for using local fuel types in the electric power industry, and the experience will be extended to other power stations in the country.

The installation of the boiler unit will allow for an almost complete transition to the use of local fuel types, with the exception of a small amount of natural gas required for starting the boiler units and for lighting-up.

Thus, in the coming year, peat and wood chips will be primarily used as fuel.

According to the head of the district power station, the annual savings due to the transition to local fuel types are expected to be at least $4.5 million.

The main consumers of heat energy from the district power station are the "Teplichny" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo," municipal utility facilities of the housing stock, and social and domestic facilities in the urban settlement of Orekhovsk. Electricity from the enterprise is supplied to Vitebsk, Orsha, and some settlements in the Vitebsk region.

Alexander Lukashenko was informed about the prospects for the development of small-scale power engineering, the efficiency of using local fuel types, and peat extraction, using BelGRES as an example.

The Minister of Energy, Alexander Ozereц, noted that currently the share of local fuel types in the generation of electricity and heat in the country is about 20.5%, and by 2015 this figure will reach about 28-30%.

Then the President visited a greenhouse complex created at the GRES and supplied with its heat. The "Teplichny" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo" was established to provide residents of the Vitebsk region with early vegetables; it is also involved in the storage, partial processing, and sale of vegetables. In the structure of gross output, the production of protected ground vegetables accounts for 66%. The branch has a block of winter greenhouses with a total area of 6 hectares, of which 2 hectares of greenhouses were converted to drip irrigation in 2010. On the farm's territory, there is a cannery where juices, drinks, marinades, pickles, and other products are produced and sold through a network of company stores.

As reported to the President, the branch's main investment project is the construction of energy-saving greenhouses on an area of 4 hectares in 2012-2013. They are intended for growing plants using modern energy-saving technologies. Due to this, vegetable production will increase by more than 40% by 2014. After the commissioning of new greenhouses, a phased reconstruction of the existing ones is planned.

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that at all small-scale power engineering facilities, it is necessary to open small production facilities for either wood drying or vegetable cultivation so that thermal energy is not wasted. "We must not lose heat. Therefore, at all facilities in the country where there is thermal energy, set up these greenhouses, create drying production facilities, or something else, but we must not lose heat. Let's act in this direction, it is profitable," said the head of state.

The President also touched upon the issue of storing vegetable crops, emphasizing that it should be given serious attention. "We are returning to this topic again. We have already agreed on potatoes. Both potatoes and other vegetables must be stored properly," said the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko was presented with a small exhibition of local vegetable products.

Then the head of state proceeded to the fields of OJSC "Orshanskaya Poultry Farm" and OJSC "Yubileiny".

OJSC "Agrokombinat "Yubileiny" specializes in industrial pig farming. In 6 months of this year, 2648 tons of live-weight meat were raised here. Over the past 5 years, pork sales have doubled. About 50% of pork is processed in its own meat processing shop with a capacity of 80 heads per day and sold through a network of branded stores. The average daily weight gain of pigs being raised and fattened was 568 g.

After the farm's reform in 2001, it included 3 farms for raising and fattening cattle and a dairy farm for 195 heads. All milk is sold as "extra" grade. Last year, the farm received Br2.2 trillion in net profit with a profitability of implemented products, works, and services of 6.7%. Sales profitability was 5.5%.

The head of state was informed about the progress of the harvesting campaign in the farms he visited, in the Orsha district, and in the Vitebsk region as a whole. In particular, as of August 4, 44% of grain crops had been harvested in the region with an average yield of 32.2 centners per hectare.

The President demanded that the grain harvesting not be delayed and be completed within 10 days. The head of state drew the attention of the Orsha district leadership to the fact that the yield indicators in the district are significantly lower than the existing potential.

The discussion also covered the cultivation of winter rapeseed, a significant portion of which perished, making the year unfavorable for the crop. Nevertheless, the region intends to continue its cultivation by changing the strategy and strictly adhering to all technologies.

In general, the harvest largely depends on technologies. Therefore, one of the President's demands is to strictly adhere to the cultivation technologies for all agricultural crops.

Summing up the work in the fields of Orsha region, Alexander Lukashenko once again drew attention to the fact that the volume of tasks for the modernization and development of the country's agro-industrial complex will not be reduced, but they will have to be solved in conditions of significant reduction in budget financing.-0-