Lukashenko: The issue of Vitebsk region must be finally resolved in the next five years
November 8, Polotsk. In the next five-year period, it is necessary to finally resolve the issue of the Vitebsk Region and determine how to act in the development of the agro-industrial complex. This was stated by President of Belarus ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO on November 8, speaking in Polotsk at the regional festival "Dazhynki-2024", a BELTA correspondent reports.
"It's scary to even think about the amount of work that we have to do in the Vitebsk region. But the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing it. Whether we like it or not, but based on our experience, we must finally resolve the issue of the Vitebsk region in the next five years. Resolve it in a positive way and decide what else we will do here. After all, half of the farms are normal farms in the Vitebsk region. They work, they can work, and the other half, maybe a little less, need support and appropriate organization, - said the HEAD of state. - In the spring, before the sowing campaign, somewhere in March, we will talk about this. We are in for some very hard work . We will help those who give back. Understand, we cannot bury other people's money in the ground. Help means that we will take it from someone and give it to you. But we must give to those who will give twice as much tomorrow, so that we can return these funds to them. A simple formula, life has not come up with another and will come up with something. Take it - give it back."
Today, about 130 agricultural enterprises in the region are part of six such structures. "That is, those who can work themselves, work well, were my command: do not touch them, let them work. Those who do not want to work or have objective problems, let's unite, think about how veterinary services will work and so on," the Belarusian leader explained.
As for the created associations, many innovations and preferences were laid down in them even on a national scale - from raw material zones and economic incentives for processing to the specifics of personnel policy. "I have not forgotten your promises. By March 1, we will summarize the work of these structures. And I want you to understand: there will be no "electoral discounts", elections, they say, if you fail. No time for populism," the President warned.
The head of state cited data that this year the Vitebsk region threshed about 900 thousand tons of grain. "But we didn't reach our basic goal - at least a million tons. If we take grain, we did well with corn: plus 100 thousand tons compared to last year. In terms of the yield of this crop, we almost surpassed Grodno residents - we came in second place in the country. If this is true. I think it is true. 90 centners per hectare, - he said. - This is even higher than the average for the republic. This shows that you can do it."
"Well, as for grain, you have somewhere a little more than 20 (centners per hectare - BELTA note). So compare," the head of state noted.
"We discussed the issues with the governor at the entrance. I told him directly: Vitebsk residents can do anything. Even if you build complexes poorly, you can't get going on a simple construction site, it's not because you don't know how to do it. It's because someone doesn't want to or doesn't care about solving the issues that need to be solved today. And absolutely everyone can do it in Vitebsk, Polotsk, and other cities and villages of the Vitebsk region," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Accordingly, there must be a feed base for this. But the head of state focused on the main thing - it is not about the complexes, not about milk and not the level of MEAT production - there is enough of this in the country. "It's about you - the people. I can't imagine that Vitebsk region will be some kind of bare, dull land, where there will be no people, where there will be emptiness. This will never happen," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
He noted that Vitebsk region has its own characteristics, including negative ones, in comparison with the southern regions of Belarus. But further north - in RUSSIA, Norway, Finland - the conditions are even more difficult in terms of agriculture.
"What I mean is that Vitebsk people are not needed somewhere. We will live on this land, but we need to clearly define what we will do here. If people stayed, where will they work, what is the salary, what are the working conditions," the President said.
Continuing the theme of the results of the Vitebsk region's work in the agro-industrial complex, Alexander Lukashenko noted the reports addressed to him that the region has significantly increased its forage base and increased forage procurement: "Maybe they have increased it by a third in terms of feed units, as we say. But I am a man of the earth, I know how feed units are counted. But you are not talking about quality. And what is the quality of this feed in this trench? Have you made an adjustment? Or is there rot instead of haylage and will we have terrible cattle mortality ? There will be demand for this too."
"In general, it is time, dear friends, to pull yourself together. Moreover, you know how to do it. Think about how. Then report. Together we will finally decide," the head of state urged.
He noted that there are individual achievements in the Vitebsk region in animal husbandry, primarily in poultry farming and milk production. "We were even able to organize additional deliveries of eggs, extended a helping hand when our Russian brothers asked us to do so," noted Alexander Lukashenko. "By the way, there is a huge demand for our products in Russia today. Sell them."
The President also noted that the experiment with soybeans in the region was successful. "The results are encouraging (the yield of 30 centners per hectare was obtained on the first 100 hectares). Not bad for soybeans. This means that we should be engaged in this crop in Belarus," the head of state instructed. "We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on purchasing this feed. We buy a huge amount of soybeans from abroad. Why don't we grow it here?" "
As you can see, even soybeans can be grown in the Vitebsk region. This is experience. And the minister has been instructed to spread this to Belarus," the Belarusian leader added.
"I have said many times that a breakthrough is impossible without a new scientific and technological basis - through selection, increased productivity, compliance with technologies in both crop production and livestock farming. A certain basis exists, but today we need a more significant result. So that you can at least live normally," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.
"It's scary to even think about the amount of work that we have to do in the Vitebsk region. But the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing it. Whether we like it or not, but based on our experience, we must finally resolve the issue of the Vitebsk region in the next five years. Resolve it in a positive way and decide what else we will do here. After all, half of the farms are normal farms in the Vitebsk region. They work, they can work, and the other half, maybe a little less, need support and appropriate organization, - said the HEAD of state. - In the spring, before the sowing campaign, somewhere in March, we will talk about this. We are in for some very hard work . We will help those who give back. Understand, we cannot bury other people's money in the ground. Help means that we will take it from someone and give it to you. But we must give to those who will give twice as much tomorrow, so that we can return these funds to them. A simple formula, life has not come up with another and will come up with something. Take it - give it back."
Today, about 130 agricultural enterprises in the region are part of six such structures. "That is, those who can work themselves, work well, were my command: do not touch them, let them work. Those who do not want to work or have objective problems, let's unite, think about how veterinary services will work and so on," the Belarusian leader explained.
As for the created associations, many innovations and preferences were laid down in them even on a national scale - from raw material zones and economic incentives for processing to the specifics of personnel policy. "I have not forgotten your promises. By March 1, we will summarize the work of these structures. And I want you to understand: there will be no "electoral discounts", elections, they say, if you fail. No time for populism," the President warned.
The head of state cited data that this year the Vitebsk region threshed about 900 thousand tons of grain. "But we didn't reach our basic goal - at least a million tons. If we take grain, we did well with corn: plus 100 thousand tons compared to last year. In terms of the yield of this crop, we almost surpassed Grodno residents - we came in second place in the country. If this is true. I think it is true. 90 centners per hectare, - he said. - This is even higher than the average for the republic. This shows that you can do it."
"Well, as for grain, you have somewhere a little more than 20 (centners per hectare - BELTA note). So compare," the head of state noted.
"We discussed the issues with the governor at the entrance. I told him directly: Vitebsk residents can do anything. Even if you build complexes poorly, you can't get going on a simple construction site, it's not because you don't know how to do it. It's because someone doesn't want to or doesn't care about solving the issues that need to be solved today. And absolutely everyone can do it in Vitebsk, Polotsk, and other cities and villages of the Vitebsk region," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Accordingly, there must be a feed base for this. But the head of state focused on the main thing - it is not about the complexes, not about milk and not the level of MEAT production - there is enough of this in the country. "It's about you - the people. I can't imagine that Vitebsk region will be some kind of bare, dull land, where there will be no people, where there will be emptiness. This will never happen," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
He noted that Vitebsk region has its own characteristics, including negative ones, in comparison with the southern regions of Belarus. But further north - in RUSSIA, Norway, Finland - the conditions are even more difficult in terms of agriculture.
"What I mean is that Vitebsk people are not needed somewhere. We will live on this land, but we need to clearly define what we will do here. If people stayed, where will they work, what is the salary, what are the working conditions," the President said.
Continuing the theme of the results of the Vitebsk region's work in the agro-industrial complex, Alexander Lukashenko noted the reports addressed to him that the region has significantly increased its forage base and increased forage procurement: "Maybe they have increased it by a third in terms of feed units, as we say. But I am a man of the earth, I know how feed units are counted. But you are not talking about quality. And what is the quality of this feed in this trench? Have you made an adjustment? Or is there rot instead of haylage and will we have terrible cattle mortality ? There will be demand for this too."
"In general, it is time, dear friends, to pull yourself together. Moreover, you know how to do it. Think about how. Then report. Together we will finally decide," the head of state urged.
He noted that there are individual achievements in the Vitebsk region in animal husbandry, primarily in poultry farming and milk production. "We were even able to organize additional deliveries of eggs, extended a helping hand when our Russian brothers asked us to do so," noted Alexander Lukashenko. "By the way, there is a huge demand for our products in Russia today. Sell them."
The President also noted that the experiment with soybeans in the region was successful. "The results are encouraging (the yield of 30 centners per hectare was obtained on the first 100 hectares). Not bad for soybeans. This means that we should be engaged in this crop in Belarus," the head of state instructed. "We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on purchasing this feed. We buy a huge amount of soybeans from abroad. Why don't we grow it here?" "
As you can see, even soybeans can be grown in the Vitebsk region. This is experience. And the minister has been instructed to spread this to Belarus," the Belarusian leader added.
"I have said many times that a breakthrough is impossible without a new scientific and technological basis - through selection, increased productivity, compliance with technologies in both crop production and livestock farming. A certain basis exists, but today we need a more significant result. So that you can at least live normally," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.