On October 8, Minsk Region / Correspondent of BELTA/. Local authorities in Belarus must pay maximum attention to the high-quality storage of harvested vegetables and fruits. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated this on October 7 during a working trip to the Minsk Region, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The Head of State was briefed on the progress of autumn field work in Belarus and the region, the implementation of his instructions on production and storage organization, as well as the progress of potato and other vegetable harvesting.
Alexander Lukashenko demanded that the harvesting of main agricultural crops be completed by the end of next week. Speaking about potato harvesting, he said: "We must complete potato harvesting next week. It will be unforgivable if we leave potatoes in the field at such prices and market demand." As for the harvesting of corn for grain, it, according to the Head of State, must be completed within a week. "Let's agree, this week and the next – and we will finish harvesting," the President said, addressing the officials. At the same time, he noted that there is still a lot of work to be done on ploughing stubble fields.
As of October 6, the sowing of winter cereals has been completed in agricultural organizations in all regions of the republic. 1551 thousand hectares have been sown, which is 107% of the plan and 114 thousand hectares more than in 2009. Potatoes have been harvested from an area of 41.6 thousand hectares (85% of the area to be harvested). 782.1 thousand tons of potatoes have been obtained from the harvested area with an average yield of almost 188 centners per hectare. Sugar beet has been harvested from an area of 40.6 thousand hectares (42% of the area). 1590.8 thousand tons of sugar beet have been dug with a yield of 392 centners per hectare.
The President inquired about the state of potato prices. As reported by Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bambiza, this crop is currently exported at a price of Br1300 per kilogram. At the same time, he reported that there is a request from agricultural organizations to reduce the price of potatoes. However, the Head of State doubted the expediency of this, given the high demand for potatoes on the market. "What is not bought at this price should be put into storage and sold in spring, winter, whenever," said Alexander Lukashenko.
The Head of State stressed the need to ensure proper storage conditions for the harvested vegetables and fruits. During a recent visit to Nesvizh District, the President had already instructed to find vacant premises for potatoes, as storing this crop in clamps leads to losses of up to 40%. Alexander Lukashenko inquired about the progress of this instruction. In response, the Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee, Boris Batura, stated that the selection of premises for storage facilities is being carried out intensively, and where clamp storage is still used, it is only as a temporary measure. "All the costs you incur for transportation will pay off," noted Alexander Lukashenko.
Boris Batura also reported to the Head of State that the gross potato harvest in the Minsk Region is planned to be doubled in the next 5 years. While this year, with a yield of approximately 215 c/ha, it is planned to collect about 300 thousand tons of potatoes, by 2015, with a yield of about 340 c/ha, this figure should increase to 610 thousand tons. It is also planned to increase the sown areas for this crop from 13.7 thousand hectares to 18 thousand hectares during this period. This year, the revenue from potato sales by agricultural organizations in the Minsk Region is expected to be Br170-180 billion.
Alexander Lukashenko was also informed about the overall vegetable production in the Minsk Region. It was noted that 80% of vegetables are grown in large agricultural organizations. The Head of State was shown samples of vegetable products manufactured in the Minsk Region, including those produced by processing plants.
The President familiarized himself with the issues of organizing potato and other vegetable production and storage in the region, using Kopyl District as an example, in particular, OJSC "Staritsa-Agro," which is involved in potato cultivation using intensive technology. The gross potato production at this farm in 2010 is expected to be 8,200 tons with a yield of 410 c/ha, accounting for 40% of the total potato production in the district. The agricultural enterprise sells part of its harvest to Tatarstan. From potato sales this year, "Staritsa-Agro" plans to earn about Br5 billion. Thus, the thesis that potato cultivation is profitable and this crop can provide good profitability (100% and more this year) is confirmed.
Addressing the implementation of the village revival program in general, Alexander Lukashenko noted that in the next five-year period, attention should be paid to specific issues of improving the social sphere in rural areas, refining what has already been done in several areas. The President called the experience of OJSC "Staritsa-Agro" positive in that the farm took on the issue of delivering rural children to kindergartens and schools. The Head of State believes that this serves as a good example for other regions of the country. "Parents will be calm if everything is alright with the children. This is what we need to refine in the next five-year period and complete the agro-towns where it has not yet been done. So that people live in the village, raise children, and are absolutely calm about their future. Even if a child does not get into the city, does not get into university, they should know that they are needed in the village," said Alexander Lukashenko.
The President stressed the need to make maximum use of market conditions regarding the sale of potatoes, which yielded a good harvest this year. And considering the demand for potatoes this year, potato growing should also be developed in the future. This concerns both the expansion of areas for planting this crop and the reconstruction of vegetable storage facilities.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus is not threatened by any economic cataclysms. "What default?!" said the President, noting that God willing, the situation in agriculture next year will be the same as this year. "We had a slight setback with grain crops, but otherwise, we have an excellent year," he noted. "That's the whole default," added the Head of State.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that there is no talk of any default in Belarus: we "have something to eat, to feed children (we will feed children in schools and kindergartens), and to clothe them." "And you can't budge us on this," he is convinced. -0-
BELTA