Lukashenko demanded to increase sowing of early crops in the country
During today’s working trip to the Brest Region, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, said he considers it necessary to increase the area under early crops, which is especially true for the northern regions of the country
Immediately upon arrival at the fields of Belovezhsky JSC of the Kamenets District, the Head of State asked how much land had been harvested, what was the yield, what were the characteristics of the harvest this year, and what crops caused concern. Nothing escaped the President’s attention, with every detail being important.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Vladimir Grakun reported that a quarter of all areas have been harvested in the country, 2.5 million tonnes of grain have been harvested. Although the drought has made certain adjustments to the plans of farmers, there is no reason for alarm. This year they will harvest 9.2-9.3 million tonnes of grains and legumes together with corn. Moreover, corn harvest is expected to exceed the level of last year. There will be also an increase in the harvest of sugar beets. Potato fields are in good condition, from which more than a million tonnes will be harvested.
As far as the Brest Region is concerned, today almost half of the area has been harvested. Harvesting rates are comparable to last year’s levels.
“One to one,” said Yuri Shuleiko, the Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee.
A separate conversation was dedicated to the work of Belovezhsky JSC. The President was told that not so long ago the agricultural enterprise had 11,700 hectares of farmland while now it boasts 38,000 hectares. They sow wheat, rape, and barley, being also engaged in the production of meat and milk. This year is expected to be a record year in terms of yield for Belovezhsky. Harvesting rates are very good: on a fine day, grain growers are able to harvest about 6 percent of all areas.
The Head of State again draws attention to the strictest observance of all agricultural technologies.
“There’re no questions where technologies are observed,” Vladimir Grakun noted.
The President is somewhat surprised by this statement, “If there is no technology, then, probably, there is no need to sow. What to sow and get 15-20 centners per hectare? We spend more than we get... If people work normally and observe technology, then such people can be assisted. We can’t do without technology.”
The President demands not to relax after harvesting grain. In August-September, as Aleksandr Lukashenko put it, ‘a busy time’ awaits the villagers: new mowing of grasses, straw harvesting, harvesting of haylage, silage, sowing winter crops, picking vegetables. Moreover, everything must be done in the optimal time, quickly and efficiently.
“Therefore, now in no case should we relax, on the contrary, we must mobilise. We need to raise the Vitebsk Region to a new level in terms of harvesting. This refers to the Vitebsk Region, as well as to the northern areas of the Grodno Region, the Minsk Region and the Mogilev Region. We need to sow such early crops that farmers begin to harvest them in mid-July. The Vitebsk Region could start harvesting earlier only after sowing early crops: winter barley, winter rapeseed, and some other crops. This is my strict requirement: to sow early crops in the northern regions in order to start harvesting earlier. After harvesting early crops, winter crops can be sown earlier. That’s the point,” Aleksandr Lukashenko clearly explained the strategy.
