"It's more expensive than oil." How Lukashenka made potatoes the national product of Belarus

ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO during a visit to OJSC Ozeritsky-Agro, August 2019 Alexander Lukashenko during a visit to OJSC Ozeritsky-Agro, August 2019 12 Topic news

In May 2001, the HEAD of state took part in a community work day in the village of Atolino, MINSK region. Together with the workers of the village, the President worked in a greenhouse and planted potatoes . Since then, of course, a lot has changed. From the collective farms in that sense, not a trace remained. Potato cultivation technologies have also changed. They manually plant and dig up the bulb, except perhaps in personal household plots, but still cannot imagine their diet without it. In the new issue of the YouTube project "In Fact: Decisions of the First" we will tell you why Belarusians cannot live without this root crop, what varieties are the most delicious and how many times a week the President eats potatoes.

When potatoes appeared in Belarus

The homeland of potatoes is considered to be Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Belarusians first tried this root crop during the time of the Commonwealth. Then it was a delicacy. Massively in the fields it began to be grown in the middle of the XVIII century. The inhabitants of the Grodno region became innovators, and only a hundred years later the bulb appeared on the tables of all Belarusians. And gradually it turned into the main national vegetable, which is why we were jokingly called "bulbash".

“For example, we are called “bulbash”, but now the bulb is no longer the same as it was before. This year we will finish working out a special program, decide how many potatoes we need for the domestic market, how many potatoes we can sell. But this crop, the most valuable for us, we will return it. It is very cost-effective and promising," the head of state said during a working trip to the Vitebsk region in August 2009.

The development of potato growing in sovereign Belarus began at the suggestion of the President. Alexander Lukashenko, while still the head of the farm, delved into all the nuances of cultivating crops. On a national scale, many problems had to be solved. Revise the seed production system, organize specialized farms, build storage facilities and logistics centers for the implementation.

"Today, the same potatoes and agricultural products are gold, it is more expensive than oil . Potatoes- profitability of 100 percent, even more will be at current prices ... But what to do with potatoes? No vaults. To store in piles is a crime. Go bury your family jewels in the ground, drop it like this and bury it - you won't. So today our production is equal to that. And it's not true that there is no place to store it. So I instructed the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister to find places with the governors within three days and put all the potatoes and vegetables there. Now it is not necessary to sell, by and large, or not to sell everything. It is necessary to hold on and sell at a price three times more expensive," the head of state pointed out the need for careful storage of agricultural products, and in particular potatoes, at the VI Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus in 2010.

How potato growing developed in Belarus

In order for the cultivation of potatoes to be profitable, it is necessary to maintain its presentation until the new season. They refused to store in piles. Modern warehouses in the farms allow you to save the harvest. High-tech storage facilities are constantly being improved. It is important to strictly comply with the conditions (and it does not matter if it is an artificial intelligence system or an ordinary basement).

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“Potatoes require low temperatures for storage, from two to four degrees. storage facilities. New systems of the fifth technological order are being developed. I must say that our manufacturers offer such systems with artificial intelligence," said Vadim Makhanko, DIRECTOR General of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Horticulture.

Vadim Makhanko. Video screenshot

“We have about 700,000 tons of potato storage capacities in the country, which allow us to store potatoes and use them in full. They have climate control, processing, sorting and packaging lines. This is necessary in order to sell potatoes as competitive products. technologies are being improved, and this requires the introduction of certain lines and equipment," said Tatyana Karbanovich, deputy head of the main department of crop production - head of the department of potato growing, horticulture, agrochemistry and plant protection of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus.

How many potatoes does one Belarusian eat per year

Last year, farms of all categories harvested 3 million 857 thousand tons of potatoes. And this is more than enough to feed the country. 300 thousand tons were exported . On average, a Belarusian eats 160 kg of food per year. This season, the sown area for potatoes has been reduced by 2,000 hectares. As noted in the relevant department, this decision is justified. We will not be left without a bulb.

"Traditionally, the largest areas are allocated for planting potatoes in the farms of the Minsk and Brest regions. They account for about 50%. But it cannot be said that these regions have all the resources. There are large organizations in every region," Tatyana Karbanovich said.

According to her, potatoes produced in the public sector are used for filling for the next year's harvest, put into stabilization funds and sold at markets-fairs: "Analysis of the last five years shows that potato production per capita has increased from 360 kg to 530 kg And consumption remained at the level of 160-165 kg per capita".

Tatiana Karbanovich. Video screenshot

What potato dishes do Belarusians cook

Why are potatoes called the second bread? This is because the vegetable is very satisfying: just a few tubers are enough to satisfy your hunger. In our country, there are more than 300 potato dishes: potato pancakes, dumplings, sorcerers, casseroles and much more. The tradition of cooking dishes from grated potatoes is recognized as a historical and cultural value of the country. Some time ago, journalists offered the President to popularize the national cuisine of Belarus on a personal example.

Such a proposal was voiced at a press conference of the President of Belarus to the mass media of the regions of RUSSIA in August 2003. One of the Russian journalists complained that Belarusian potato pancakes could not be found in Moscow during the day with fire, after which he suggested that the head of state popularize the national Belarusian cuisine by personal example.

“Well, we will feed you potato pancakes,” Alexander Lukashenko assured the Russian journalist. “Anyway, those potato pancakes that you love and appreciate will not be made in Moscow. ", in Belarus, from my point of view, the way I like to cook potato pancakes, not everyone knows how to do it. There was a case in my life. When I became President, the cook cooked potato pancakes. I love it when they are dried, crispy, low-fat. And I, already being the President, taught this cook how to cook pancakes for me. This is a special preparation of dough, well, there is nothing tricky. The proportion is a little FLOUR, an egg, potatoes and , most importantly, pastries. Therefore, not everyone in Belarus knows how to cook good potato pancakes." .

What is the difference between potato varieties, which ones are the most popular

There are more than 170 varieties of potatoes in the state register, of which about 50 are of Belarusian selection. There are different groups of ripeness: early, mid-early, mid-ripening and mid-late. On hearing - "Breeze" and "Skarb". They are resistant to late blight, have a high starch content and a pleasant taste. Gaining popularity "Pershatsvet", "Mastak", "Julia". New varieties are resistant to both diseases and pests.

"The first place in planting is occupied by the Breeze variety. Due to the balance of all indicators, it occupied the largest areas. Our Belarusian variety Skarb does not lose ground either. ", which many people know and love not only in our country, but also abroad," said Vadim Makhanko.

In Belarus varieties of various directions are produced. "These are table varieties, and varieties for the production of chips, starch, french fries. The most important thing we are working on is resistance to diseases and pests. But we do not forget about the population when it comes to HEALTH and ecology , " he added.

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When buying, it is important to understand for what purposes potatoes are needed. Domestic breeders offer many varieties - for example, for mashing, baking, boiling. There are varieties for salads, for adding to frozen vegetable mixes, for making dry puree, for storage in a vacuum. French fries are considered a promising direction. The only workshop for its production operates in Tolochin.

“We have one plant for its production in Belarus, it is located in Tolochin. Its capacity is enough to fully supply Belarus, provided it works in one shift. The plant can work in three shifts to provide for our neighbors,” said Vadim Makhanko.

He noticed that the creation of varieties for french fries is a very difficult segment. "A certain set of varieties is used all over the world. The difference is that, in addition to varieties of other breeding institutions, we use domestic varieties. This is a very promising direction, given the growth in the number of catering establishments," he said.

How presidential lands contribute to the selection of domestic varieties of potatoes

The presidential grounds traditionally serve as an experimental platform for domestic breeders. New varieties are tested here every year. As soon as the weather and schedule permit, the President is personally in the field. Alexander Lukashenko always digs potatoes himself and evaluates the yield.

"We received about 300 tons of potatoes this year on a small plot. We also donated them. They will take them to the monastery today or tomorrow. We give them to people. Seeds to someone, because these are new varieties. I personally even do this for the soul, I'm looking for new varieties ", - the head of state spoke about one of his hobbies during a working trip to the Gomel region in February 2020.

"Our President has land where the developments of scientists are tested. At one time, the head of state decided to support agricultural science and relied on domestic developments. Now, when the world is unstable, sanctions are being introduced, we can say with confidence that agriculture is provided and seeds, and seedlings, and seeds of vegetable crops. And all this within the framework of the Academy of Sciences, which is actively supported by the President," Vadim Makhanko emphasized.

To which countries Belarus supplies potatoes

Собранную на президентских полях картошку потом передают в интернаты для престарелых и детские дома. Бульбу главы государства давно распробовали журналисты президентского пула. Во время одного из визитов в Россию Александр Лукашенко подарил четыре мешка корнеплода и своему коллеге Владимиру Путину. Чем не презент на новогодние праздники? Белорусская картошка - это бренд качества и вкуса. Кстати, недавно губернатор Ставропольского края заявил Президенту России, что у него картошка лучше белорусской. У Путина это, конечно, вызвало улыбку, впрочем, как и у наших ученых.

"Белорусский картофель еще со времен Советского Союза отличался особыми кулинарными качествами. Белорусские сорта были эталонами вкусового качества. В Советском Союзе был сорт "Темп", потом "Ласунак", сегодня "Нара". Можно сказать, что к вкусовым качествам белорусского картофеля стремятся многие. Это отличительная особенность", - уверен Вадим Маханько.

"Бренд белорусского картофеля узнаваем, любим и востребован. География поставок довольно обширная и включает Россию, Узбекистан, Азербайджан, Казахстан, Сербию, Молдову, Черногорию и другие страны", - отметила Татьяна Карбанович.

Taking into account the traditions, the successes of our scientists, and the personal control of the President, it is sometimes strange to see potatoes from other countries on the shelves, and even lower in price and more attractive in appearance. Hence the strict requirement of the President - first to provide the domestic market, and only then send the goods for EXPORT. So that it does not work out that the bulbashi eat Egyptian potatoes. Bulba is also a bulb in Africa. But your own is tastier and certainly should not be more expensive.

“Sell. But if you fail before July-August, until early potatoes and cabbage appear, blame yourself,” the head of state warned officials at a pricing meeting in February this year. “Decide for yourself there. Together with the government, if this is necessary. But I repeat once again: you raised this question - I made a decision. It must be strictly executed. Potatoes, cabbage, carrots and so on until the new harvest - clean, neat, like imported ones, laid out in stores. They will be happy to buy Belarusian but in such a way that it has a marketable appearance. It is not bad in quality, sell it. But if, as the prime minister said, there are African and some other potatoes at crazy prices in June, July, August, blame yourself.prices , your own - do it. Take the rest to the moon. Please, take it out, just feed your people."

What are the health benefits of potatoes

Potatoes contain a good set of nutrients. It has calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins B, C, K and P. It also contains a lot of fiber and protein, which are found mainly in the peel. That is why boiled potatoes in their skins are healthier than peeled ones. The root crop is useful for those who have problems with high blood pressure, the cardiovascular system, and kidneys. It will not harm those who often catch a cold, since potatoes have an antibacterial effect on the body . But how often to cook potato dishes is everyone's business.

“I eat potatoes once a week so that I can run in hockey and not get fat. Once a week on average, rarely twice. I restrain myself artificially,” said the President of Belarus in an interview with the Kazakh TV channel Khabar in October 2019 .

According to Belhydromet, the conditions for the potato harvest this year are quite favorable. So, there is a real chance to grow a good harvest. We do not idolize the root crop, as did the Peruvians, the inhabitants of the homeland of the potato. But we love this vegetable very much and, perhaps, we cannot imagine our life without it. And they are ready to share the harvest with their neighbors.

"Potatoes are our savior. Potatoes were grown somewhere in the war and so on - and you instead of bread, instead of MILK ... When they tell me what kind of monument you would erect for the war in Belarus ... I would erect a bag of potatoes on the monument and a cow ", Alexander Lukashenko stressed the value of this agricultural crop in an interview with the Kazakh TV channel Khabar.

The project was created at the expense of targeted collection for the production of national content.