Re-profiling of the agricultural sector of the Vitebsk region should ensure the financial stability of enterprises - Leonid Zayats

Leonid Zayats said that the head of state has set the task to approach the specifics of the agro-industrial complex development in the Vitebsk region with the utmost care. "It is necessary to improve the structure of sown areas, which would ensure the specialization of this region and allow for the procurement of the required amount of feed, grain, and other crops to meet the needs of public animal husbandry in the Vitebsk region," the minister noted. "Taking into account the climatic and soil conditions, we are focusing the specialization of farms on rational management that would ensure the financial stability of agricultural enterprises." It is planned to increase milk production to 1 million tons, beef to 83 thousand tons, and pork to 82 thousand tons by 2020.

"These figures will ensure the utilization of the Vitebsk region's capacities and will play a key role in the financial stability of agricultural enterprises and industrial enterprises," said the head of the department.

Taking into account the planned development, bank loans and foreign investments will be attracted to promising sectors. For example, back in the summer, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee signed an agreement with the Chinese company DRex Food Group Co., Ltd. on the implementation of a project to build dairy farms based on direct investment. As for the adjustment of the structure of sown areas, Leonid Zayats stated that this work is already underway. "We have worked out the structures of sown areas and agreed them with the Regional Executive Committee and the National Academy of Sciences. Farmers understand that it is necessary to focus on areas that will allow them to earn money," he said.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the restructuring of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region must be approached seriously.