By Vasily Kharitonov
Alexander Lukashenko visited farmland at the 1st Minsk Poultry Plant JSC near Pinsk, where he familiarised himself with the application of intensive technology for the cultivation of grain
The Head of State had detailed questions for the experts about applied approaches in farming, the work of the enterprise and technical re-equipment. As for crop growing, here the point was made about the purchase of the necessary volume of seeds of grasses. As the President was reported, the Republican Belsemena Association is engaged in this question; however each farm, having held the tender, can choose other suppliers, based on price.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that it is a strange situation when, under centralised large installations, the price turns out higher, than at small businesses.
In the field in the Kozinets area, the crops took a firm stand. Such a density of shoots is not frequently found. The President checked the estimated productivity using the old national method: he threw a cap on the ears. The stems yielded a little, but kept the weight.
“If they have not bent, then it would be 100 centners from a hectare, and now, nearly 95,” the Head of State said.
The data of the national method coincided with the result of a trial threshing. Result on different sites ranged from 95 to 107 centners per hectare. In the most dense area, grain-growers gathered a symbolic dream sheaf from one square metre. Here, crop capacity was 120 centners. It is the following purpose to which workers will aspire.
Until recently, such a result would have seemed fantastic for our latitude. Now it is not that common, but fields with a similar crop capacity are practically in each region. Even in northern Vitebsk Region. What is the secret? Alexander Lukashenko, before his arrival to the area, gave orders to invite the Deputy Director General on plant growing of the 1st Minsk Poultry Plant (the owner of field), Valery Yalugo. In the old manner, he is the main agronomist. And, as a matter of fact, the technologist of work on land. The President asked the specialist about the smallest details of the work leading to such a success. In theory all is simple: optimum choice of seeds of the necessary variety, accurate adherence to technology, the correct use of fertilisers and the protection of plants against illness. But what prevents others from operating in a similar way elsewhere? During a thoughtful and professional conversation, several possibilities appeared.
Seeds — an amount of them are bought for our farm centrally. However, the enterprises can hold corresponding tenders independently. And at times, it turns out more profitable. Both on quality and price. The President asked a reasonable question: why?
It would seem that there is nothing difficult about it — work as it is ordered, and receive the corresponding result. However, does everybody know how it is ordered? The theme of the quality of personnel arises here. The advanced experience needs to be extended. It means that it is necessary to, once again, look at the system’s effectiveness in the improvement of the professional skills of experts. Here, the President specified, should not be stagnation. Each head should have distinct career prospects. Reasonable rotation should be carried out constantly. And here, obviously, exists a considerable reserve for the optimisation of a number of state apparatus. As an example, Alexander Lukashenko cited local management of agriculture. Are there too many people, taking into account modern realities? If earlier, only for the processing of operative statistics, many people were attracted, but now, with modern developments of information and communication technologies, just one controller can successfully cope with work on this site. In general, there is much to think about. And this reserve of optimisation of the number of workers can become one more tool to the increase of payments to other experts, the growth of authority and the status of local heads.
During the trip Alexander Lukashenko reminded about his requirement on carrying out of the rotation of personnel and revealing of perspective heads.
“I do not hide and I’ve said about this several times, that the time for serious rotation of personnel has come. We should not have stagnation,” the President noted. “Therefore, if I come to the field, then for me it is not the main thing to see how it is harvested. The main thing for me is to see how the personnel and head work.”
The Head of State, once again paid attention to questions of optimisation of personnel numbers in the organisations of local chain of command. In particular, as he said, it is necessary to change approaches in the work of agriculture management experts who, on their level, should direct and help in solving practical questions, but not to substitute the function of farm managers and their deputies.
As the Head of State noted, optimisation and reduction of staff will allow for an increase in both salary and the prestige of state employees. “Reform should be carried out in all directions,” the President noted.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that, as a whole, there should not be too many managers. As he said, first of all competent technologists are needed — the people knowing their trade in details. “The main thing for me is the personnel,” noted the President.
Attention was also given to the need of permanent work on the improvement of professional skills of managers of the regions and farms, granting them access to modern scientific methodology.
