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Lukashenko explains Belarus’ decision to suspend grain export
MYADEL DISTRICT, 2 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why the country is not planning to export grain as he spoke to the media in Myadel District on 2 August, BelTA has learned.
According to the head of state, it is important to use grain to manufacture products with high added value. For example, it can be high-quality fodder, which is the BNBC is working on. Or, grain can be used for the needs of cattle breeding in order to get dairy and meat products.
“The main thing is added value,” the president said.
Besides, it also means new jobs, salaries and social services.
“Some states sell a lot of wheat, rye, corn grain, and then buy milk and meat. We produce grain and use it for consumption, baking, confectionery, and also animal feed,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes it is important to increase the number of cow population to get more meat and milk. “This is a very important area of our work. Therefore, I do not see reasons for us to sell grain,” the Belarusian leader said.
He also touched upon buckwheat: “We will harvest some 30,000-32,000 tonnes of buckwheat this year while we need some 25,000-27,000 tonnes for domestic consumption. This means we can sell 3,000-5,000 tonnes, but it is actually very little and I do not encourage our farmers to do it. We must feed our people, meet the domestic food demand. People from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland come here, they want to buy something. Let them buy it.”
“We want our neighbors to see that we are normal people and that we are ready to help out in times of need. This is important,” the head of state explained.
He stressed: “We are not planning to sell grain. Tomorrow it must ‘produce’ milk and meat. Manufacturing base is the main thing for us.”
The president suggested setting up new companies and developing basis for them. “We need to develop the lands that we could have developed long time ago. There are many of them, abandoned, and there should not be any abandoned lands here. Land reclamation will help us here as well, but that is a separate topic for discussion,” the head of state said.
The president also recalled a model dairy complex he saw during his visit to Slutsk District earlier. “They [Minskoblagroservice] will build such a dairy complex for this farm. We need to look into the future so that people would be happy with their jobs. My mother used to work on a farm, and I can say that this dairy complex is a step into the future,” the head of state said.
Journalists asked what disadvantages Aleksandr Lukashenko currently see in agriculture. “I wish we had more money. If we had more money, I would use it, first of all, for land reclamation. We need to restore what is being used for decades, including canals, drainage,” said the head of state. He added that he would also use funds to help struggling farms.
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