Lukashenka on the agro-industrial complex of Vitebsk region: there is a positive trend, but there are enough problems

August 22, MINSK . The agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region shows a positive trend, but this is not enough and there are still enough problems. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to this during a meeting on topical issues of the development of the Vitebsk region, BelTA has learned.

"One of the hottest (issues - approx. BELTA) is harvesting and fodder. A month ago, at a conference call, we all had critical moments and made the necessary decisions both on harvesting, and specifically on the regions, including Vitebsk. Together with 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, fodder storage is also lower than last year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

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 dried up, half were normal crops. , 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 the harvesting of many other crops, including corn, is still ahead, and this crop can compensate for the shortfall in cereal grains.

"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 grain ears, rapeseed, we have excellent corn. I warned the Deputy Prime Minister and the new Minister of Agriculture that "The hardest and most important stage is ahead - to prepare and harvest corn. Especially for grain. Excellent corn is worth more than ever, an excellent harvest. And I am sure that if we remove everything, then we can get another two million tons of corn grain," the Belarusian leader said.

However, he warned that it is not worth simply chasing grain harvesting indicators, you need to approach the issue of corn harvesting taking into account local needs: “Harvesting corn for grain or for silage is your business. grain. If a good ear is formed, then the corn silage will be very good. Especially for the Vitebsk region. And for others too."

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

"Remember our conversation - cruel, masculine. We considered 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 the growth of efficiency would be ensured. It is clear that there is nowhere to retreat to either the Vitebsk region, or Mogilev, or Gomel, like others,” the President of Belarus drew attention, “Today we see certain positive developments: the region’s agriculture as a whole shows a positive trend, MILK production and milk yield per cow are growing (if there is no fodder, this trend 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 capacities of MEAT processing plants are not loaded. "Only a third of them are loaded. Dairy enterprises are loaded by 70%. There is room to grow and there is where to process raw materials - milk and meat," the President said.

He also drew attention to the weak discipline of payments for delivered agricultural products. "This is unacceptable! If the enterprise does not have money to pay off the peasants, give them from the budget. You yourself sit without a salary, but return the money to people . Especially for the delivered milk and meat," the head of state demanded.

“The saddest thing is that we do not settle accounts with the population, from which systematic complaints are received,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

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