Lukashenka: Agro-unions in Vitebsk region - the strategy is right, but where is the result? Alexander Lukashenko

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August 5, Postavy. The creation of agro-industrial associations in the Vitebsk region is the right strategy, but their work must bring results. President of Belarus ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO stated this in Postavy about the work of agro-industrial associations of the Vitebsk region, BelTA has learned.

"It is necessary to continue the consolidation of farms. But there should be no artificial association," Alexander Lukashenko stressed.

At the same time, the President noted that it is necessary, as an incentive, to help those enterprises, to which lagging farms are attached. "Unification must be conscious. You must see the prospect," the HEAD of state said.

"What we are doing in the Vitebsk region is the right strategy. And having made a decision, we have only reached half of it. In what respect: we have identified raw material zones for processing enterprises. But then it is even more important that we have our own branded trade. It should be expanded, - Alexander Lukashenko believes. - And expand not only in Belarus. We must go to RUSSIA."

"Therefore, there will be integration structures in the Vitebsk region. And there is nothing to say today that this is wrong, that this was not the way to go. And what? What other way is there to concentrate profits?" the President asked.

At the same time, he noted that if enterprises can work independently and achieve their goals, then let them work on their own. It will even promote healthy competition. "We do not put pressure on anyone, we do not artificially push them into integration structures," the head of state noted.

But the President is not satisfied with the work of the integration structures created in the region. "Whichever way you look at it, this decision is correct. The question arises: what about the result?" Alexander Lukashenko said.

The last time this issue was discussed at the level of the head of state was a few months ago, during his March trip to Glubokoe. "And we will torment the Vitebsk region on the issue of the result of the integration associations very often," he warned.

At the beginning of the year, agro-industrial associations received a loss from the sale of products. Half of the associations had negative profitability, overdue debt obligations grew.

“But then you promised me with the whole team that you would improve the dynamics of the financial indicators of these structures, staff the existing farms and complexes with livestock, prepare high-quality feed, improve the performance discipline and responsibility of local personnel,” the President recalled.

On the whole, in the first half of the year, production in agro-industrial associations decreased by more than 8% compared to the level of the previous year. Despite some positive dynamics of certain financial indicators, the two largest agro-industrial associations - Vitebsk and Orsha MEAT processing plants - are operating at a loss.

"But what revolts me most of all. There was a corresponding requirement for timely payments for MILK and meat purchased from the population. Is it really such a lot of money?" - expressed bewilderment Alexander Lukashenko.

For the first half of the year as a whole, for agro-industrial associations, the production of livestock and poultry in live weight decreased by more than 12%, milk production - by 6.5%. Reduced dairy herd and average milk yield.

"Due to the lack of raw materials, the capacities of processing enterprises remain unloaded. Two - the Postavy Dairy Plant and the Verkhnedvinsky Butter and Cheese Plant - were loaded at 100%. Problems are growing like a snowball. Some managers of overburdened enterprises continue to hope that their debts will be written off, they will be helped, and so on. We will help everyone who resists and gives results," the President said. "I don't need to talk about any objective circumstances. The weather conditions are normal, I would say ideal."

At the meeting, Sergei Chepik, Chairman of the Postavy District Executive Committee, shared his opinion on the practical results of the work of the agro-industrial association. "This direction is the only correct and correct one. The future is behind it. There is forward movement. We clearly understand where we will move, a clear work strategy has been built," he said.

The unification and adoption of measures within the framework of the relevant presidential decree made it possible to strengthen technically and personnel, to build a more optimal scheme of work to develop the raw material base for the head enterprise - the Postavy Dairy Plant. "Most importantly, we recruited normal personnel here - specialists, professionals. We gave them a good salary. We created conditions for them," the head of the district noted.

The DIRECTOR of the plant Konstantin Gailevsky agrees with him. According to him, the primary problem in increasing the production of agricultural enterprises of the association was the lack of proper discipline - both technological and labor. Unfortunately, he stated, this problem has not been completely eradicated, but they are actively working on it. Practically all indicators according to the business plan for the development of the association are met, including in terms of revenue and profit.

Alexander Lukashenko paid special attention to the issue of ensuring the safety of equipment: "A lot of equipment is energy-saturated, it is expensive. And if it is not properly stored, it is a pipe. This applies to everyone. The safety of equipment, especially energy-saturated tractors, is the number one issue."

He recalled that in the Myadel region he recently visited a model machine yard in a new farm. "We showed it in the Myadel region. The machine yard was made exemplary in the place of the old one. We should strive for this. It was inexpensive. We need a machine yard, a grain dryer and dairy complexes. For the Vitebsk region, it is the MTC. Pig-breeding and poultry-breeding complexes, probably, we will additionally we will no longer build in the Vitebsk region. Let's deal with milk and cattle. This is a big train," the President said.

“This is our way. Yes, we won’t catch it right away. But if we clench our teeth, we’ll break out in a five-year period,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Discipline, order, personnel, ensuring the safety of crops and equipment - the President especially drew attention to these issues, warning everyone about personal responsibility. "You must be the masters here. No one will accept complaints about the rigidity of the requirements. We need results! There is land, there is good equipment," he said.

As for additional financial support, it is only for promising projects and results, the President warned. The development strategy of the region is formed on the ground.

Anzhelika Nikitina, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, is directly responsible for the development of integration structures in the region. According to her, today the association in Postavy is the best among all. In second place is the structure headed by the Verkhnedvinsk Butter and Cheese Plant. Products are actively going not only to the domestic market, but also for EXPORT.

In general, there is a certain positive trend in agro-industrial associations, but so far this is not enough for agricultural enterprises to fully provide themselves with the revenue they need to fulfill their debt obligations and develop, Anzhelika Nikitina stated in an interview with reporters after the meeting.

However, in the region they look at the situation with optimism and in the near future they count on rectifying the situation and consolidating the successes already achieved.

“Processing is a marginal type of activity. We distribute the profit that the processor has down so that this profit reaches agricultural organizations. We need to redistribute profits, invest in agricultural organizations, get products there, put them for processing, sell through the distribution network and for export. And then this mechanism will be reversible, and in this way we will improve the economy of agricultural organizations. We support resource zones, develop rural areas," the deputy head of the region said.