Orsha District must use all internal reserves for a sharp leap forward - A. Lukashenko
04/08/20110 views
On August 4, Orsha District /BelTA Correspondent/. The Orsha District is to become a flagship in the Vitebsk Region for the adoption of intensive technologies in agricultural production. This was demanded by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, during his visit to the Orsha District on August 4, BelTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The second day of the President's working trip to the country's regions was dedicated to agricultural and energy topics.
These issues were the focus of Alexander Lukashenko's familiarisation with the work and development prospects of the Belarusian State Regional Electric Station, the "Teplichny" branch, OJSC "Orshanskaya Poultry Farm", and OJSC "Yubileiny".
Alexander Lukashenko immediately clarified that the main goal of his visit was to promote the development of the Orsha District to the level of a flagship in the region.
The President cited the Gorki District of the Mogilev Region, which he had visited the day before, as a positive example. The Head of State believes that the new head of the Gorki District is on the right track: "The Chairman of the District Executive Committee has reviewed all areas, clearly outlined what needs to be done, and determined the optimal number of farms, reducing them from 15 to 12. The planned "Dazhynki" festival in Gorki next year should spur the development of this region, and it will become a flagship in the Mogilev Region."
The Orsha District should become a similar flagship in the Vitebsk Region. "The foundation for future development here is good. We just need to be clear about everything. If any associations are needed, then associate. But this is not an end in itself; everything must be done reasonably, taking into account economic efficiency," said Alexander Lukashenko.
At the same time, the President expressed the opinion that "without mobilising internal reserves, we will not bring Orsha to a higher level." The Head of State expressed the wish that "everything possible will be done here for a sharp leap forward, and we will help if necessary, the main thing is that it is beneficial."
It is in the Orsha District that new intensive technologies in agriculture are planned to be implemented, and then the acquired experience will be disseminated to other districts of this part of the Vitebsk Region. This, according to Alexander Lukashenko, is the importance of creating flagship districts in the regions. "Other districts with similar farming conditions will look up to you," the President said, addressing the residents of Orsha. "We need to create flagship, typical districts, whose experience others will then learn from."
The Orsha District has not been chosen as a pilot district in the Vitebsk region for the adoption of intensive technologies by chance. In many indicators, both in crop production and livestock farming, it is already a leader. Significant attention is paid in the district to the implementation of intensive technologies for milk and meat production. Targeted efforts are being made to improve farming practices, soil fertility, and optimize the structure of sown areas.
The structure of sown areas in the district is largely established, and no significant changes are planned in the coming years. The main focus is on further intensification of crop production and strict adherence to technological regulations. Through intensive factors, the gross grain harvest is planned to reach 190 thousand tons by 2015, with a yield of 52 centners per hectare; oilseed rape is to reach 20.8 thousand tons (32 centners per hectare); potatoes are to reach 24 thousand tons (350 centners per hectare); and flax fibre is to reach 1.3 thousand tons (14-15 centners per hectare).
Currently, the district faces the challenge of achieving self-sufficiency. To this end, it is necessary to achieve a grain yield of at least 50 centners per hectare, produce at least 24 thousand tons of meat, 6 thousand tons of vegetables, and 150 thousand tons of grain. The district is already approaching many of these targets this year.
Topics related to the development of small-scale power generation, the transition to the use of local fuel types for electricity and heat production, and peat extraction were the focus of the President's attention during his familiarisation with the operations of the Belarusian State District Power Station in the urban settlement of Orekhovsk, Orsha District.
The branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo" "Belarusian State District Power Station" was established in 1927, making it one of the oldest Belarusian power enterprises. The power station supplied its first industrial current in 1930. Initially, the station operated on lump peat and provided electricity to Mogilev, Shklov, Orsha, and Dubrovno. In the post-war years, targeted efforts were made to modernise the power station. In the 1980s, the district power station switched to burning fuel oil. From 1997 to 2003, the district power station was converted to burning natural gas.
And in 2006, a project was successfully implemented to construct a power unit at the station (a boiler with a capacity of 20 tons of steam per hour and a turbine of 1.5 MW) operating on a mixture of wood fuel and peat. Thus, six years ago, the station began transitioning to local fuel.
The Head of State was informed that the share of local fuel types at the district power station currently stands at 60%, with natural gas accounting for 40%.In 2012, the power station will fully switch to local fuels. This will be made possible by a new boiler unit of domestic production, which will be installed at the GRES by the end of this year. The pilot sample of the boiler was built at the Belo-Ozersk Energy Mechanical Plant. This equipment will be used to develop the technology for using local fuels in the power industry, and the experience will be extended to other power plants in the country.
The installation of the boiler unit will allow for an almost complete transition to the use of local fuels, with the exception of a small amount of natural gas required for boiler unit start-up and lighting.
Thus, in the coming year, peat and wood chips will be the primary fuels used.
According to the head of the GRES, the annual savings from the transition to local fuels are expected to be at least $4.5 million.
The main consumers of heat energy from the GRES are the "Teplichny" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo", communal utility facilities of the housing stock, and social and domestic facilities of the urban-type settlement of Orekhovsk. Electricity from the enterprise is supplied to Vitebsk, Orsha, and some settlements in the Vitebsk region.
Alexander Lukashenko was informed about the prospects for the development of small-scale power engineering, the efficiency of using local fuels, and peat extraction, using the example of BelGRES.
Minister of Energy Alexander Ozerets noted that currently, the share of local fuels in the generation of electric and thermal energy in the country is about 20.5%, and by 2015, this figure will be around 28-30%.
Then, the President visited the greenhouse complex, which was established at the GRES and is supplied with heat from it. The "Teplichny" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo" was formed to provide residents of the Vitebsk region with early vegetables; it is also involved in the storage, partial processing, and sale of vegetables. In the structure of gross output, the production of protected ground vegetables accounts for 66%. The branch has a winter greenhouse complex with a total area of 6 hectares, of which 2 hectares of greenhouses were converted to drip irrigation in 2010. A cannery is located on the farm's territory, producing juices, beverages, pickles, preserves, and other products that are sold through a network of company stores.As reported to the President, the branch's main investment project is the construction of energy-saving greenhouses on an area of 4 hectares in 2012-2013. These will be used for growing plants using modern energy-saving technologies. This will increase vegetable production by more than 40% by 2014. After the commissioning of the new greenhouses, a phased reconstruction of the existing ones is planned.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that small-scale production facilities, either for wood drying or for growing vegetable crops, should be opened at all small energy facilities to prevent thermal energy waste. "We must not lose heat. Therefore, at all facilities in the country where thermal energy is available, set up these greenhouses, create drying facilities, or something else, but we must not lose heat. Let's proceed in this manner; it is profitable," said the head of state.
The President also touched upon the issue of storing vegetable crops, emphasizing that serious attention should be paid to this. "We are returning to this topic again. We have already agreed on potatoes. Both potatoes and other vegetables must be stored properly," said the head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko was presented with a small exhibition of local vegetable products.
Then, the head of state proceeded to the fields of OJSC "Orshanskaya Poultry Farm" and OJSC "Yubileiny".
OJSC "Agrokombinat "Yubileiny" specializes in industrial pig farming. In the first 6 months of this year, 2,648 tons of live-weight meat were raised here. In the last 5 years, pork sales have doubled. Approximately 50% of the pork is processed in its own meat processing shop with a capacity of 80 heads per day and is sold through a network of company stores. The average daily weight gain of pigs under rearing and fattening was 568 g.
After the farm's reform in 2001, it incorporated 3 cattle rearing and fattening farms and a dairy farm for 195 head. All milk is sold as "extra" grade. Last year, the farm generated Br2.2 trillion in net profit with a profitability of implemented products, works, and services of 6.7%. Sales profitability was 5.5%.
The head of state was informed about the progress of the harvesting campaign in the farms he visited, in the Orshansky district, and in the Vitebsk region as a whole. In particular, as of August 4, 44% of grain crops had been harvested in the region, with an average yield of 32.2 centners per hectare.
The President demanded that the grain harvesting should not be delayed and should be completed within 10 days. The Head of State drew the attention of the Orsha District leadership to the fact that the yield indicators in the district are significantly lower than the existing potential.
The discussion also concerned the cultivation of winter rapeseed, a significant part of which was lost, and the year turned out to be unproductive for the crop. Nevertheless, the region intends to continue its cultivation, changing the strategy and strictly adhering to all technologies.
In general, the harvest largely depends on technologies. Therefore, one of the President's requirements is to strictly adhere to the cultivation technologies for all agricultural crops.
Summing up the work in the fields of Orsha region, Alexander Lukashenko once again drew attention to the fact that the scope of tasks for the modernization and development of the country's agro-industrial complex will not be reduced, but they will have to be solved in conditions of a significant reduction in budget financing. -0-
BELTA