Opinions & Interviews

Belarusian regions urged to be more independent in procurement of fodder

IVYE DISTRICT, 21 August (BelTA) – Regions should be more independent in the procurement of fodder, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko during the working trip to Ivye District, Grodno Oblast, on 21 August, BelTA informs.

The head of state traditionally asked about the progress in the harvesting campaign – gathering of grain, corn and other crops. “Nine million tonnes of grain [including corn and rape] is a lower margin for you,” the head of state said.

At the same time, the president encouraged agrarians to be rational as far as the harvesting of corn, which is an important feeding crop, is concerned. In certain cases, it makes sense to produce silage from corn herbage, in other cases – to gather corn kernels. “There should be no pressure at all. People should decide themselves depending on the needs of their regions. Use your tactics,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the harvest of other crops, such as potato and sugar beet, is good. It is necessary to prepare for gathering these crops.

Farmers have already harvested crops from 92% of the total area under grain and leguminous crops except for corn. They have cropped more than 6.1 million tonnes of grain.

The harvest of potatoes is expected to exceed 1 million tonnes only in the public sector. The total harvest at farms of all categories will make up almost 7 million tonnes. “It means that private farms produce much more potatoes than traditional collective farms. So, let’s be happy that private farmers started to produce a lot,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

Agrarians expect to gather a good harvest of other crops such as rape, flax, sugar beet, corn, etc.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also mentioned certain problems with straw harvesting. “This is a very serious issue now,” he said.

The president was also informed about the progress in the harvesting campaign in Grodno Oblast, the procurement of fodder, social and economic development of Ivye District.

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about the total size of the cropping area in the region, including unused and uncultivated lands. Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Kravtsov explained that land reclamation was done in the region in the soviet times, a lot of money was injected, but the effect is too small in some areas. “There are ameliorative ditches. There is no water in them, all water is in the fields,” he said.

“It means that the issue should be revised. Huge lands are not used properly. There should be an instruction for ameliorators. They should look into the situation here. Certain conclusions should be made this year in order to make improvements next year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“There are good fields overgrown by shrubs, waterlogged lands, fields that can be cultivated,” the head of state said. “Big fields, 40-70 hectares near Volozhin, for example. We need to look into the situation. There are many fields.”

According to the president, the fulfillment of plans and thriftiness are very important. We used to have such plans for the production of milk, meat, and we had to fulfill them. The situation is a bit different now, we try to put ourselves in farmers’ places. Such understanding is okay, but they must also fulfill the plans. If you don’t like the Soviet word, let’s call it a forecast. But this forecast is mandatory. Only then we will talk about market approaches. As for land reclamation, we will help.”

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