President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a conference call. During which two main issues were considered - the progress of the current harvesting campaign and overcoming the consequences of the natural disaster, heads of departments and chairmen of regional executive committees were heard.
Alexander Subbotin, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee:
– Today, the harvesting of winter barley is being completed, and next week we plan to start the active phase of threshing the entire grain crop. We expect a fairly good harvest. We have over 1,000 grain harvesting combines, 99% of which have passed technical inspection. 490 people have been involved to assist the villagers, including 150 combine operators from housing and communal services, forestry, industrial enterprises, and the Ministry of Defence is lending a hand.
Next week, we will complete the harvesting of winter rapeseed, and one-fifth of the required volume has been delivered against the state order.
Although the harvesting has not yet reached full capacity, preparations for laying the foundation for the future harvest are already underway, straw is being cleared, and 5,000 hectares have been ploughed for winter barley, with the sowing of the crop to begin on August 1.
One-fifth of the flax areas have been weeded. Fodder procurement for the second cutting continues, with at least two teams working in each district.