Lukashenko on grain: it’s necessary to buy while it’s cheap
During a visit to the Pavlinka robotic dairy complex of the Yubileiny agricultural company in the Orsha District, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, was informed that this year’s grain harvest will be less than last year due to objective reasons, and the missing grain will be imported. The Head of State demanded that this process be accelerated, since the current market situation is favourable for this.
The President asked the minister, “Is it enough for us to buy half a million [tonnes of grain] to ensure balance at the level of last year?”
The reply was affirmative. The Head of State continued, “It’s necessary to buy it while it’s cheap. There is enough cheap grain. The grain deal between the Turks, Russians and Ukrainians fails. Therefore, it is possible that prices will still drop. We need to buy. Even if the purchased grain is somewhere close to the cost, if there’re capacities, it is necessary to purchase and keep it. This is the gold reserve. Grain is always useful.”
