LYAKHOVICHI, 4 November (BelTA) - The government will discuss the near-term strategy for the development of the linen industry before the end of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Subbotin said during a working meeting on the linen industry development in the town of Lyakhovichi on 4 November, BelTA has learned.
"We have preserved this industry: we grow flax, process it, make fabrics and clothes. But problems are still many. We are gradually addressing them. We had onsite meetings at the Pruzhany linen mill, the Orsha linen mill. Today we are working in Lyakhovichi. We are studying the experience and trying to develop an effective mechanism. By the end of the year, we will consider this at a government's session and determine the most effective development strategy for the industry," Aleksandr Subbotin noted.
The deputy prime minister stressed that the issue should be solved in a comprehensive manner, with a focus on modernization and technology, reducing costs and tapping internal reserves. “The equipment at the linen mills is quite worn out. This issues merits close attention if we want to increase the efficiency of flax processing. Farm vehicles also wear out. Each region has to its own method of land allocation. Probably the most optimal one is in Brest Oblast: a certain area is assigned to the linen mill, and it exchanges it with local farms if necessary,” Aleksandr Subbotin said.
According to Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Krupko, the land assignment issue has already been considered. Brest Oblast will fulfill the task this year. Land allocation in other regions is underway. This will ensure that each linen mill gets its own land plot to load its production lines.
Aleksandr Subbotin also praised the positive experience of the country's linen mills. “Some package flax processing waste and export it. Some put up special boilers for heating and burn waste. There are many positive aspects in the development of the industry,” the deputy prime minister said.
Flax growers are currently preparing the soil for the next year's crop. They are applying fertilizers, lifting the seedbed and conducting other field preparations for spring sowing. “This will give us the opportunity to get the harvest and volume of flax that we have planned. The minimum volume of the product is 180,000 tonnes,” the minister added
