A. Lukashenko instructed to accelerate the implementation of the flax industry development program /updated/

On August 6, Braslav District / Tatyana Polezhay - BELTA /. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has instructed to accelerate the implementation of the national program for the development of the flax industry. The Head of State set such a task today during a working visit to the Vitebsk region, a BELTA correspondent reports. According to Alexander Lukashenko, the program needs to be completed within the current and next years. He noted that insufficient attention was paid to this area in previous years. "Nothing has changed: the same people, practically everything is the same, and flax was grown in such weather. There were better years, but they didn't grow it. They didn't know how to cultivate it? They did. They were negligent. Therefore, if 60 thousand tons are required, everything must be done to close the issue this year and next, and we will no longer talk about long fibre," the Head of State said. As reported to the President, the flax harvest is nearing completion in the country. The quality of this crop is satisfactory in the Gomel, Vitebsk, and Brest regions. For experimental purposes, two fields were sown using French technology. As noted by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Mikhail Rusy, approaches to flax cultivation in Belarus will be significantly changed. The President set the task to purchase imported equipment that will improve the quality of the flax fibre produced. "New lines must be installed at flax mills, taking the best ones. And then produce these lines ourselves," said Alexander Lukashenko. Currently, the depreciation of fixed assets at flax mills is almost 100%. It is planned to import new equipment from Belgium for three flax mills in Mozyr, Orsha, and Gomel. The Head of State demanded to double the production of goods at these three plants. As for finished flax products, large warehouse stocks still remain. The Governor of the Vitebsk region, Alexander Kosinets, said that 1.5 million linear meters of fabric are produced monthly at flax mills, of which 1.3 million meters are semi-finished products requiring further processing, and only 200 thousand meters allow for the sewing of finished products. He noted that the demand for linen fabrics is high, and supplies of such fabrics to Russia and Europe have recently increased.

Alexander Lukashenko was also informed about the progress of the harvesting campaign in the country. According to Mikhail Rusy, by the evening of August 6, 6 million tons of grain will have been harvested in Belarus. Simultaneously, winter sowing is underway in the country. According to the ministry's forecasts, 1.8 million tons of winter grain will be harvested this year. As for winter rapeseed, seeds of this crop have been fully prepared, and a decision has been made to increase rapeseed sowing areas. As Alexander Ksinets noted, 70% of the areas have already been harvested in the Vitebsk region, with an average grain yield of 22.1 centners per hectare. One of the main problems of the Vitebsk region remains the low contouring of fields. The governor assured the President that the harvest this year, in barn weight, will be equal to last year's. In 2009, 1.9 million tons of grain were harvested in the Vitebsk region. Alexander Lukashenko again drew attention to his main requirement – increasing the efficiency of agricultural management. "Gross harvest and so on are good, but efficiency is needed. Let's calculate how much money is invested and what the profitability will be," he said. "I emphasize that I will evaluate not by pace and yield. The main thing is the effect we will have from grain, milk, and meat. All calculations must be based on this." The Head of State also drew attention to the issue of high-quality procurement of feed and agricultural crops. In his opinion, this must be given paramount importance. -0-

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