Beshankovichy – A Potential of Opportunities. ATN Report | Лепельский райисполком

Our country is often called a place of risky agriculture, especially the Vitebsk region.

Our country is often called a place of risky agriculture, especially the Vitebsk region. However, the Beshenkovichi District, located right in the centre of the northern region, seems to be breaking this stereotype.

The district is the smallest in area in the region, but its potential is enormous. Today, foreigners are investing in the beautiful landscapes of the Vitebsk region, building hotels. And one pharmaceutical company has launched production there.

The Beshenkovichi District is in the centre of the Vitebsk region and is the smallest in area in the region. Slightly over 14,000 people live here. The urban and rural populations are almost equally divided.

Once you have seen the landscapes of the Vitebsk region – mirror-like lakes surrounded by lush greenery – it is hard to remain indifferent. Therefore, it is not surprising that foreign businessmen are investing money here to develop services, earn income, and return to their favourite places…

This recreation centre is no exception: successfully invested Russian money is working here. Previously, it was an abandoned pioneer camp surrounded by silver springs. Hence the name.

Investments are not only made in the development of the tourism industry… Investors from 4 countries – Lithuania, Latvia, India, and Belarus – have joined forces in Beshenkovichi. The result is an innovative complex for the production of anti-cancer drugs. It serves both import substitution and export purposes. Specialists from Vitebsk and Beshenkovichi are working here. The staff is planned to be expanded.

Specialists are selected as early as the 3rd or 4th year of university; if interest and strong preparation are observed, they are invited for internships.

Mikhail is one such student. He works as a process engineer. He is responsible for the correct proportion of components and adherence to rules during medication manufacturing.

Let's turn to traditional medicine. There are over a hundred beekeepers in the Beshenkovichi District. This provides self-employment and additional income. For some, it is also a passion... Currently, not only honey but also beekeeping products are in demand. About 10 years ago, this was not paid attention to. Now, bee bread, pollen, and propolis are all valued. Just like health.

Mikhail Valentinovich is a beekeeper. He heads the district beekeepers' society. When he decided to increase his striped livestock, his neighbours were displeased, so he had to buy a house in an abandoned village and move them all. Thus, the bees settled the farmstead. Here are a couple of life hacks for apitherapy.

Professionals Decide Everything: Both How to Revitalise Soil and How to Inspire It for New High Yields

The lost land was bought out this year by the "Terra Nostra" farm. Previously, they worked with the land indirectly, mostly buying and selling equipment, spare parts, and related items. This year, they cultivated all 4,000 hectares, not forgetting a single patch. And still, it's not enough; they acquired the same amount in the neighbouring district. Dmitry, after 15 years of working with the land, knows how to fertilise and please it, working based on data from experimental plots. Grain is sown on these plots, and new methods of plant care are tested – a small research institute within the farm. He does not follow book advice or seasonality; he works based on the needs of specific plots.

Lyudmila Petrovna has been in agriculture for 40 years; she approaches her work with reverence, as she does with people. She heads one of the best enterprises in the district, specialising in milk. Therefore, they know how to feed cows qualitatively and correctly compose their menu. They do not complain about their salaries. It is piece-rate, meaning you get paid for what you do.

This enterprise is 30 years old. They manufacture multi-fuel boilers, burning not only wood chips but also peat and waste – a significant step in the development of small-scale energy for housing and communal services. This year, they mastered the production of filters for industrial gas purification. A new stage of development began in 2011, after a visit by the President. At that time, funds were allocated from the Belarusian Innovation Fund, and new equipment was acquired.

This is the brain of the enterprise and the workplace of programmers. It is they who breathe soul into heavy metal, making it compliant, easy to use, and more mobile.

No matter how much we keep pace with the times, history and the past always influence the present

The life of Beshenkovichi District is connected with the river. It is believed that the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks ran through here. And in the 17th century, it was in Beshenkovichi that the largest pier on the Western Dvina was built. The Western Dvina divided Beshenkovichi. To get from one bank to the other, there used to be a ferry service, and now a pontoon crossing is installed for the spring-autumn period. But in November, it is removed, and people move on the ice or by boats, and the profession of a boatman is still relevant here.

District services, pharmacies, the hospital, and banks are on one bank of the river. It seems to be within reach, but how to cross the Dvina if there is no permanent bridge, and the detour is a hundred-kilometer loop. For now, this is a problem for the residents, which they hope the authorities will be able to solve. The district can boast not only of lakes and the winding Dvina. Hunting tours, organized by the local hunting farm, are popular with tourists from neighboring countries. It is a holiday not for the faint-hearted and for people with steely patience.

For some it's a holiday, but for the district it's a profitable business and an addition to the budget

We were fortunate enough to experience the mystery of this action. During the day, in the heat, animals sleep, and only at night do they become active. Therefore, we went hunting after sunset, but without rifles – with a video camera and binoculars.

Galina Vladimirovna took over the district in mid-March. Previously working in Gluboksky District, she became fond of horses – at an amateur level. The last time she sat in the saddle was 3 years ago; this time we put her on a horse.

Presumably, the name Beshenkovichi comes from the word "beshen," which literally translates as "fast current in the middle of the river." Today, the district strives for the same rapid development.

The main thing here is to choose the right vector.