Dynamics in the agro-industrial complex, features of the Forum of Regions and the domestic vaccine. Lukashenko convened a meeting on the development of the Vitebsk region

ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting Alexander Lukashenko Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting Alexander Lukashenko 12

August 22, MINSK . President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko convened a meeting on topical issues of development of the Vitebsk region. The range of topics is wide - from the progress of the harvesting campaign and the state of affairs in the agricultural-industrial complex as a whole to preparations for the upcoming Forum of Regions of Belarus and RUSSIA in 2024 and the production of domestic vaccines and medicines, a BELTA correspondent reports.

Among the meeting participants are the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, the authorized representative of the HEAD of state in the Vitebsk region Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov, Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Ermolovich, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Gusakov, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sergei Bartosh, Minister of Finance Yuri Seliverstov, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin, Assistant to the President of Belarus - Inspector for the Vitebsk Region Igor Brylo, Deputy Minister of HEALTH Boris Androsyuk, DIRECTOR of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Vladimir Gorbunov.

About harvesting and preparing feed

“One of the hottest (issues - BELTA's note) is harvesting and fodder procurement. A month ago, at a conference call, we discussed all the pressing issues and made the necessary decisions on harvesting, and specifically in the regions, including Vitebsk. Together However, a number of problems remain: more than a third of the area has not yet been harvested in the Vitebsk region, grain yields are significantly lower than last year, feed procurement is also below last year’s level,” noted Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state drew attention to the fact that there are indeed objective factors in the form of drought, which the regional leadership can refer to, but this situation was not everywhere: “Half was dry, half were normal crops. it was necessary to compensate for the shortfall in crops in dry areas with a good harvest , for example, in the western regions."

The President asked the chairman of the regional executive committee to report on the preliminary results of the harvesting campaign. Alexander Lukashenko noted that there are still many other crops to be harvested, including corn, and with this crop it is possible to compensate for the shortfall in cereal grains.

About the most important stage that is still ahead

“We must evaluate the work of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region as a whole. And if the Vitebsk region or other regions of our country lacked something in cereal grains, rapeseed, we have excellent corn. I warned the Deputy Prime Minister and the new Minister of Agriculture that The hardest and most important stage ahead is to prepare and harvest corn. Especially for grain. The price of corn is excellent as never before, the harvest is excellent. And I am sure: if we harvest everything, we can get another two million tons of corn grain," said the Belarusian leader.

However, he warned that you shouldn’t just chase grain harvesting indicators; you need to approach the issue of corn harvesting taking into account local needs: “Whether corn is harvested for grain or silage is your business. You shouldn’t chase just to get grain. If a good ear has formed, then corn silage will be very good. Especially for the Vitebsk region. And for others too."

Alexander Lukashenko

About the situation in the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region and problematic issues

Speaking about the situation directly in the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region, Alexander Lukashenko recalled that more than three years ago decree No. 70 was issued - the region was provided with significant state support in the form of clearing debts, installment plans for obligations for 15 years, etc.

“Remember our conversation - cruel, masculine. We reviewed the results of the work of the Vitebsk agro-industrial complex more than once, including at off-site meetings. The current governor gave assurances that increased efficiency would be ensured. It is clear that there is nowhere to retreat, neither the Vitebsk region, nor the Mogilev, nor the Gomel, as well as others," the President of Belarus noted. "Today we see some positive progress: the region's agriculture as a whole shows positive dynamics, MILK production and milk yield per cow are growing (if there is no feed, then this dynamics will collapse). This is extremely insufficient." We have enough problems."

For example, the number and production of livestock is declining, there is a shortage of raw materials, and the capacity of MEAT processing plants is underutilized. “They are only at a third of capacity. Dairy enterprises are at 70% capacity. There is room to grow and there is room to process raw materials - milk and meat,” the President said.

He also drew attention to the weak discipline of payments for supplied agricultural products. “This is unacceptable! If the enterprise does not have the money to pay the peasants, give it back from the budget. You yourself are sitting without a salary, but return the money to the people . Especially for the milk and meat supplied,” demanded the head of state.

“The saddest thing is that we don’t even settle accounts with the population, from whom we receive systematic complaints,” noted Alexander Lukashenko.

He asked the head of the region to report on what he sees as reserves and how he plans to end the year.

About the features of the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia

One of the topics of the meeting was preparations for the XI Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia to be held in Vitebsk in the summer of 2024.

“We need to take preparations as seriously as possible. I know that the general idea of ​​the event has been proposed - science and innovation for the economic development of the union. We have something to offer our partners (the success of TIBO-2023 is proof of this) and we have something to borrow from our Russian scientific colleagues,” he emphasized head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that the upcoming Forum is another platform for new business ideas: from innovative developments to concluding large contracts. “We need to report on the developed concepts, plans for the organization and our features that we are ready to present to the people. Maybe it’s time to invite partners from other countries to participate?” - he suggested.

About the domestic vaccine and future plans

“The main issue with which we will begin our work is the implementation of the most important project: the creation of a domestic antiviral vaccine at BelVitunipharm. This issue is also important for us because the governor of the Vitebsk region, an expert in this field, promised me to get involved in this issue ". To finance the project, money was provided in the budget and the innovation fund. According to the plan, the construction of the plant should be completed this year. As they report to me, the first stage is over, the pilot series of the vaccine has been released," the head of state noted.

Alexander Lukashenko recalled that the Vitebsk region has already mastered technologies for the production of vaccines for animals - the existing experience can be used to create drugs for people.

“We will be able to widely use the technologies developed here in the future for the production of other vaccines and medicines,” the Belarusian leader especially emphasized.

The President inquired about the quality of what was received, how effective it was and in what time frame it would be possible to meet the country’s needs for a vaccine. “For now, we are essentially vaccinating with someone else’s product,” he noted. “By the way, I am publicly warning the Ministry of Health that we will most severely deal with systemic cases of mismanagement and mismanagement in the course of vaccinating the population, identified by the State Control Committee.”

The head of state also asked to report on how the second stage is going: “Here we should think about larger plans and expanding the product line so as not to be limited to one vaccine. As I am informed, there is a promising proposal for the production of antitumor drugs for the treatment of blood diseases. A very important direction. How are these plans linked to the fulfillment of my instructions to create a biotechnology cluster?"

The answer to this question was the report of the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin. He reported that the Concept of the national biosafety system had been developed and approved, and tasks were identified to strengthen intersectoral cooperation and coordinate the work of all services related to this issue. A situational headquarters has been created on the basis of a working interdepartmental group under the government, the work of which is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the council under the Council of Ministers.